Abstract: Connection devices for holding objects, such as, for instance, keys or dog tags, are disclosed. The connection device includes a ring presenting spaced apart ends defining an opening therebetween through which objects may be added or removed to the connection device. The device also includes a body with a blocking portion configured to adequately span the ring opening to selectively prohibit addition or removal of objects from the ring. The ring and body are shiftably interconnected at a hinged connection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a buckle bender tool that secures a strap in a metal buckle. The buckle bender tool has a main body with a first end and a second end. The tool has a bent edge at a distal end of the first end of the main body. The bent edge forms an acute angle with respect to the main body of the tool. The tool has straight edge at a distal end of the second end of the main body. The buckle bender tool positions a cut-off strap end within a buckle and deforms the buckle to secure the strap therein.

Abstract: A single-sided or reversible belt includes a single-sided or double-sided belt strap without any adjusting hole, any popular belt buckle of a frame style or plate style with its prong or projection removed, and new belt fastening means. The belt buckle is providable with a retainer loop on the rear side adjacent an outer end to keep the outer end portion of the belt buckle from dangling after belt buckling. A first fastening element is installed on underside or double sides of a belt strap free end portion, for example. An adjustably slidable locking belt clip is then used to engage a belt strap fixed end portion and carries a mating second fastening element. For belt fastening, the belt clip is manually slid along the engaged belt strap end portion to keep the two fastening elements aligned, leading to having them fastened together. This kind of belt may be used on such articles as trousers and shoes.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating an array capacitor are disclosed, in which via structures of the array capacitor have increased uniformity in their transverse areas. One method involves perforating a capacitor body to form first holes extending from a first surface and partially through the capacitor body. The capacitor body may be further perforated to form second holes extending from a second opposed surface of the capacitor body. The second holes are to connect to the first holes to provide through holes extending across a thickness of the capacitor body. An appropriate conductive material may then be filled in the through holes to form via structures with increased uniformity in their transverse areas.

Abstract: A plug-in tongue for a belt buckle of a seatbelt system. The tongue includes a plug-in section suitable for plugging into the belt buckle and with a belt-retaining section which has a slot for the passage and deflection of a seat belt. The plug-in tongue includes a metal plate which has a slot-shaped opening, and wherein at least one edge section of the metal plate, which edge section bounds the slot-shaped opening, is embedded into a plastics material. The edge section of the metal plate, which edge section bounds the slot-shaped opening, is bent out of the opening plane of the slot-shaped opening and has a hook-shaped cross section.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a coupling component includes a female component and a male component. The female component includes a main body portion and a coupling aperture. Similarly, the male component includes a main body portion and a coupling member. The coupling member that is mateable with the coupling aperture of the female component to couple the male and female components together. The main body portion of the male component includes a top surface and a relatively planar bottom surface. The coupling member includes a relatively planar top surface and a bottom surface. The relatively planar top surface of the coupling member is offset from the relatively planar bottom surface of the male component. The male and female components are non-releasable from a coupled engagement while under tension via a tension member.

Abstract: A fashionable belt buckle assembly appears as a single solid piece and includes a smoking pipe camouflaged from plain view. The pipe can be ejected from the buckle assembly, and when ejected, the mount continues to keep the belt tension secured around waist during smoking. A magnetic closure mechanism functions to automatically attract the pipe into the mount, snuff smoldering content, prevent the emission of any noticeable odor, prevents spillage and prevent rattling. A magnetically driven latching system dynamically synchronizes a teeter position and tension with the magnetic closure system so that through a singular sliding motion the pipe slides inward with reduced resistance, seals, and secures the pipe automatically.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning fairing sheaths are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes using vacuum pressure to assist in moving opposing portions of a fairing sheath away from each other.

Abstract: A security hard tag, uses an attachment clip to couple to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected and which can only be released from the article by use of an authorized detacher that is inserted into the security hard tag. The attachment clip may include various types of locking mechanisms on its two ends, one end which is permanently secured within the security hard tag housing and the other end which is releasably secured within the housing. Before being releasably secured within the housing, the one end is inserted through or around a portion of an article, or through a security tag loop attached to the article, and then that end is locked into the housing. The detacher uses a cam, either located on the detacher itself or positioned within the security hard tag housing, to interact with the one end of the attachment clip to release the locked end.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic latching support system for positioning a surface is disclosed. The latching support system includes a mechanical support and a ferromagnetic device.

Abstract: An anti-slip harness buckle element has a planar body portion with a plurality of slots formed therein. A biased, U-shaped, friction generating member is carried in one of the slots and slidably engages same. A portion of a support strap, or webbing extends through at least two of the slots of the buckle element and is in part forced toward an edge of one of the slots by the U-shaped, friction generating member thereby crating locking friction relative two the webbing to prevent slippage thereof.

Abstract: This invention is related to ultra-light conduit for used air and a method for construction of such a conduit with sandwich sheet type of material such as “THERMO-FOIL™” permitting to avoid losses of heat and humid air. The method of construction of a used air rectangular conduit includes the following five (5) steps: 1) cutting of a sandwich sheet 2) sealing around the sandwich sheet 3) heat formation of lengthwise channels on the surface of sandwich sheet 4) assembling the sandwich sheet into a conduit of a predetermined length and 5) installing a lengthwise vertical reinforcement into the conduit and providing a male adaptor to a fore end of the conduit which could be adapted to an aft end of a joining conduit.

Abstract: A novel striker for locking a glove box comprises a bracket (11) having at least two fastener holes (13), a bracket (11) being attached to an interior wall of crash pad or dashboard by fasteners through fastener holes (13) and a U-shaped latching loop (15, 25) being formed integrally with the bracket (11). The glove box is located in front of a passenger seat and hinged at the crash pad or dashboard for storing the miscellaneous in a vehicle. The U-shaped latching loop (15, 25) is upwardly bent with a predetermined angle against the bracket (11). A noise damping material (19) is coated on the latching loop (15, 25) by ejecting synthetic resins.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of manufacturing a capacitor includes disposing one or more conductive layers of a first electrode stack in a recess of an alignment mechanism, where the recess is positioned relative to two or more alignment elements. The method further includes placing a separator over the one or more conductive layers where an outer edge of the separator contacts the two or more alignment elements. In one embodiment, a capacitor includes anode and cathode foils having offsetting edge portions. In one embodiment, a multiple tab cathode for a flat capacitor. A plurality of cathode tabs are portioned into a plurality of cathode tab groups positioned in different locations along the edge of the capacitor stack to reduce the amount of space required for connecting and routing the cathode tabs.

Abstract: Solid electrolytic capacitors comprise a valve metal member having a dielectric oxide film and a conductive underlying layer formed on the member in this order, and a conductive polymer film formed on the layer. The conductive polymer film is formed by electrolytic polymerization of a polymerizable monomer contained in a system containing the monomer and a support electrolyte consisting of a compound having at least one nitro group. By this, high temperature stability of the capacitor is significantly improved. Alternatively, the electrolytic polymerization may be effected in a system which comprises a monomer, a support electrolyte and a phenol or phenoxide derivative having at least one nitro group. Methods for fabricating such capacitors are also described.

Abstract: A belt designed to simulate the appearance of an expensive leather belt comprises a belt strap to form exclusively of molded plastic and having its front face and edge substantially uniformly machine finished. A fastening means is secured to the belt strap adjacent one end thereof for operatively fastening the one strap end to the other strap end. An intermediate device for the simultaneous transport of a plurality of belt straps from a molding system and into and from a finishing system comprises a sheet of release paper defining a carrier and a plurality of belt straps of molded plastic having their back faces secured to the front face of the carrier for movement therewith as a unit.

Abstract: A semi-automated machine for use with Spendel type belt buckle dies which are mounted on a horizontally reciprocable table to position selectively either an outer or an inner buckle piece die beneath an upper die, which is adapted with a core and a pressure frame controlled by a pressure cylinder called a shot cylinder and a pin that entends into an annular ring and a mandrel. The upper die receives initially an outer buckle piece member and it decorative covering, retains them and then forcibly urges them against an inner buckle piece member to form a decorative buckle that need not rely on adhesives. A power cylinder urges the upper die downward, while another called a slide cylinder, reciprocates a table on which the lower dies are secured. An operator guard is reciprocably retained on the table support to move oppositely from the table to force the operator's hands and arms away from the danger of the engaging dies, being powered for such movement by a fluid cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing plate grids for a lead acid storage battery. The process of the invention comprises the step of striking hard particles against surfaces of grid material to form roughness on the surfaces of the plate grids. The hard particles may be struck against surfaces of a lead alloy strip which the plate grids are to be made of by expanding or punching. They may be struck against surfaces of a mesh-like lead alloy strip which is formed by expanding or punching a lead alloy strip. Otherwise, they may be struck against the surfaces of a lead alloy strip and then against the surfaces of the mesh-like lead alloy strip which is formed by expanding or punching the roughened lead alloy strip.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger apparatus that serves alternatively as an evaporator and as a condenser, the heat exchanger apparatus comprising a frame and a heat exchange coil supported by the frame, the coil having a first coil end portion, a coil medial portion and a second coil end portion. The coil passes sinuously between ends of the frame such that the first coil end portion and the second coil end portion are disposed in the first coil row that is first contacted by air blown through the exchanger, and the coil medial portion is disposed to pass sinuously in subsequent coil rows so that approximately one half of the coil medial portion passes in co-flow heat exchange relationship to the air and approximately one half of the coil medial portion passes in counter-flow heat exchange relationship to the air.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a one-piece buckle and keeper assembly from a flat metal strip by using an automatic progressive tool, wherein the strip is stamped at a series of stations to cut and form the edges and contours of the one-piece buckle and keeper assembly thereon, the outwardly extending arm of the keeper are bent upwardly and inwardly to form a closed keeper loop and then a tongue is pivotally attached to the buckle after which the fully formed buckle, keeper and tongue assembly is cut from the strip.