Abstract: A multi-part medical marker (1) comprising a marker core consisting of at least two corresponding parts (2a, 2b) and comprising a detectable surface, wherein the surface is substantially formed from a detectable coating (4) which is applied to the surface (3) of the parts (2a, 2b) of the marker core (2). An apparatus for producing a medical marker comprising a marker core (?2) and a detectable surface, comprises: —a first feeding device (16) for providing the marker core (2); —an application device (17) for applying a detectable layer to the surface (3) of the marker core (2); and—a transport device (18) for transporting the marker core (2) within the apparatus.

Abstract: A pivot for a mounting device is disclosed. The pivot includes a first bracket having a base member configured to mount a structural member and a plurality of elongated members. Further, the pivot includes one or more second brackets. The one or more second brackets having a first member and a second member. The first member having an orifice and is configured to be fitted around the plurality of elongated members of the first bracket. The second member is coupled to the first member and has a second bracket through-hole. The pivot further includes a covering member configured to be fitted on the plurality of elongated members. The covering member includes a first part having a groove and a second part that is configured to be fitted inside the plurality of elongated members. The second part is fastened along the plurality of elongated members.

Abstract: A retractor assembly has a first clamp adapted to be mounted to a table, a first vertically oriented post supported by the clamp, a first main arm mounted for at least one of angular and lateral movement relative to the first post, and lockable in a selected position, and a tree assembly configured at one end of the second post. The tree assembly has at least two accessory arms, with each accessory arm having a first ball joint on a first end, and a pivot lock knob at an immediate portion, and each accessory arm having a second end configured to accept the mounting of a retractor to the accessory arm. The retractor assembly may also include a J-shaped hook mounted to a ratcheting linearly movable distractor assembly and trochanteric retractors mounted to the accessory arms for femoral elevation and exposure.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an articulated joint usable in e.g. robotics and rehabilitation, consisting of a first and second body, rotatably connected to each other, and comprising a third body, equally rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the third body acts as a lever arm. This lever arm is connected via a spring to a pre-tension mechanism, which may be mounted on the second body, while the rotation of the lever arm with respect to the first body is controlled by an actuator. This construction leads to a joint wherein the position can be controlled independently from the compliance of the joint, thereby yielding a mechanism with improved characteristics compared to existing designs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection device installed on a top of a canopy tent, comprising: a main body having a hollow interior, a sliding member having an interior with a downwardly protruding cylinder, support poles each having one end hinged to the main body, and the other end connected to a tent pole for standing the tent fabric upright, a joint bar having one end hinged to the sliding member, and the other end having one side hinged to a first connection bar hinged to the support pole and the other side hinged to a second connection bar hinged to the main body; The hollow interior of the main body is equipped with a compression spring and a spring holder. The cylinder of the sliding member is fitted into the hollow interior of the main body from the top of the hollow interior to be movable in the upward and downward directions to set up or taken of the tent canopy.

Abstract: A tooling apparatus for positioning end effector tooling for engagement with a workpiece to facilitate the performance of work operations on the workpiece. The apparatus includes an elongated rectangular tubular backbone member, a plurality of tubular collars positioned over and secured to the backbone member at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations along the backbone member, and a plurality of support structures secured to a side of one or more of the collars utilizing a plurality of fasteners engaging apertures in the collars and aligned apertures in the underlying backbone member.

Abstract: Connectors for linear members of wall structure which allows a variety of guide rails, fences, and pipes to be assembled in a desired pattern conveniently are provided. The connector includes a central body of annular shape; at least one socket member 6, the one end of the socket member being connected to the central body and the other end being connected to the linear member, such as pipe, wire or bar; and a rail means that connects the central body and the socket member such that the socket member can be moved along the circumferential surface of the central body.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dragline rigging can reduce the number of different parts required by including an interchangeable dragline rigging link that can be used, in different orientations, as either a hoist link or a drag link. An interchangeable dragline rigging link can include a socket connector, a dump connector, and chain connectors on either side of the link. The socket connector and dump connector can include parallel pin receiving holes, while the chain connectors can accommodate pins in a direction perpendicular to the pin receiving holes of the socket connector and dump connector. Further, the hoist assembly and drag assembly of the dragline rigging can be designed to accommodate the same size pin at a plurality of locations, in order to further increase the interchangeability of parts of the dragline rigging.

Abstract: A cross-connector assembly construct and a method of locking comprises a flexible clip contacting a longitudinal member; a housing component contacting the flexible clip, wherein the housing component comprises a conical ramp towards a bottom end of the housing component; a locking mechanism contacting the housing component and adapted to engage the flexible clip; and a connecting member contacting the housing component. The flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The flexible clip comprises a non-symmetrical socket portion; and a clip portion attached to the non-symmetrical socket portion, the clip portion being adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The locking mechanism comprises a camming pin adapted to be housed within the housing component and engage the flexible clip causing the longitudinal member to become affixed to the flexible clip; and a blocker mechanism operatively connected to the housing component and the connecting member.

Abstract: Connection plates for constructing buildings are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a connection plate includes a generally planar insert member and a support member. Insert member has a first side configured for receipt in a slot defined by a structural member and a second side configured for receipt in a slot defined by another structural member. First and second sides collectively define inner and outer edges. Support member is coupled to first and second sides is generally perpendicular to insert member in two directions. Either (1) a portion of inner edge corresponding to first side is angled relative to a portion of inner edge corresponding to second side and support member is coupled to inner edge; or (2) a portion of outer edge corresponding to first side is angled relative to a portion of outer edge corresponding to second side and support member is coupled to outer edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor-disc connecting member for a glass curtain wall or roofing, comprising: a support abutment, one end connecting with a truss frame, and the other end connecting with an interconnecting part; and the interconnecting part connecting with one end of at least two support arms. The support abutment connects with the interconnecting part via a ball pivot, and the support arms hinge with the interconnecting part. The present invention is a simple structure and conveniently assembled during the construction phase of a glass curtain wall or roofing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor-disc connecting member for a glass curtain wall or roofing, comprising: a support abutment, one end connecting with a truss frame, and the other end connecting with an interconnecting part; and the interconnecting part connecting with one end of at least two support arms. The support abutment connects with the interconnecting part via a ball pivot, and the support arms hinge with the interconnecting part. The present invention is a simple structure and conveniently assembled during the construction phase of a glass curtain wall or roofing.

Abstract: A resilient flexure has one end attached within a cavity in a rigid member, and the other end attached within a cavity in a structural mode. The cavities are shaped to limit the flexure's bend radius. The member and the node have mating surfaces that abut to constrain the amount of rotation of the member. The aforementioned elements are shaped to prevent the strain in the flexure from exceeding its design limit when the joint is at its maximum angular deflection and the attached member is fully collapsed.

Abstract: The telescoping T-square has a crossbar or cross-member and an extendable shaft or leg. The cross-member is a relatively short bar having a pair of parallel runners longitudinally extending across the length of one surface of the bar and a slot defined through the bar between the runners that extends from the center of the bar laterally towards one of the ends of the bar. The leg has a tubular, hollow proximal rod removably attached to the cross-member, and at least one telescoping distal rod slidably disposed in the proximal rod, with detent buttons locking the rods together at selected intervals. One end of the proximal rod has transverse grooves or channels defined therein slidably receiving the runners and a threaded stud extending therefrom that is slidable in the slot defined in the cross-member. A knob engages the stud to temporarily lock the cross-member and leg in fixed relation.

Abstract: An angle accessory for skirting ducts includes two flaps mounted to pivot about a pivot axis via assembly structure including two male engagement elements on the first flap and two female engagement elements on the second flap. In the vicinity of the male engagement elements, the first flap has at least one flange projecting from one of its end edges and forming an obstacle that co-operates with at least one lip of the first flap to define at least one passageway giving access to at least one male engagement element, the passageway having a small height constraining the flaps to be assembled together by bringing the second flap towards the first flap while tilting the second flap relative to the first flap's pivot axis, and then by straightening up the second flap along the pivot axis so as to engage successively the female engagement elements over the male engagement elements.

Abstract: An extension arm suitable for mounting a flat-screen electronic peripheral device, including a forearm extension having at one end a first coupling for attachment to a tilter, a platform or other means for supporting a flat-screen device and at the other end a second coupling. The extension arm also includes a pair of end caps, each having a shaft. The shaft of the first end cap is pivotably rotatable in a support mount, such as a wall, desk or pole mount. The shaft of the second end cap is pivotably rotatable in the second coupling of the forearm extension. The extension arm also includes an upper channel and a lower channel. Each channel has at opposite ends a pair of integrally cast rollers which are pivotably attached to each of the end caps. The upper and lower channels and the end caps form an adjustable parallelogram.

Abstract: A tripod joint has a main body, a screw rod, a washer, and a butterfly nut. The main body has a periphery slot, three lugs, a plurality of inner periphery recesses, a circular hole communicating with the periphery slot, and a threaded hole communicating with the periphery slot to match the circular hole. The screw rod is inserted through the threaded hole and the circular hole of the main body. The washer surrounds the screw rod. The butterfly nut engages with the screw rod.

Abstract: A joint mechanism having a movement between relative members about a center of rotation located at a point where a first line extends from one of the members intersects a second line extending from the opposite member is disclosed. Multiple joint mechanisms may be aligned together along with common lines being the axis of rotation of each joint mechanism to provide a concentric spherical joint mechanism. Concentric spherical joint mechanism may be used to assemble truss frame structures.

Abstract: A coupling for joining a pair of tubes having ends has a ball having a substantially spherical outer surface and a center and formed with an outwardly projecting pin extending along an axis radial of the ball and center. The pin is dimensioned to fit snugly into the end of one of the tubes. Another pin dimensioned to fit snugly into the end of the other of the tubes has a seat shaped to complementarily fit against the surface of the ball. The other pin is secured to the surface the ball at any of a multiplicity of angular offset positions thereon. A threaded bore is formed in the ball and centered on a bore axis traversing the center and another bore is formed in the other pin, opening into the seat, and centered on a bore axis extending at an acute angle to the respective pin. A screw extends through the bore of the other pin and is seated in the threaded bore of the ball. Normally the bore axis of the threaded bore extends at an acute angle to the axis of the pin of the ball.

Abstract: A tent is disclosed having movable tent poles for supporting a flexible tent body. An apex junction member is provided for pivotally supporting one of the ends of each of the tent poles, the opposite ends of which are held in a fixed position. A tensioning member is provided movable between a normal position in which the tent is collapsed with the tent poles parallel and adjacent to each other, and a tensioned position for tensioning the tent poles in a splayed apart configuration for placing the tent body in an erect position. A latch member is provided for releasably latching the tensioning member in its tensioned position and the tent in its erect position.

Abstract: A collapsible-expandable truss structure 16 including first and second spaced surface truss layers (18, 20) having an attached core layer 22 is disclosed. The surface truss layers are composed of a plurality of linear struts 40 arranged in multiple triangular configurations with each linear strut being hinged at its center 41 and hingedly connected at each end thereof to a nodular joint 25. A passive spring 64 serves as the expansion force to move the folded struts from a stowed collapsed position to a deployed operative final truss configuration. Damper 62 controls the rate of spring 64 expansion for synchronized deployment of truss 16 as the folded configuration is released for deployment by restraint belts 72a and 73a synchronously extending under the control of motor (71) driven spools 72 and 73.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tetrahedral beam that can be compactly stowed, sequentially deployed, and widely manipulated to provide a structurally sound yet highly maneuverable truss structure. The present beam is comprised of a plurality of repeating units comprised of tandem tetrahedra sharing common sides. Tetrahedra are comprised of fixed length battens 12 joined by joint 14 into equilateral triangles called batten frames. Apexes of adjacent triangles are interconnected by longerons 16 having mid-point folding hinges 20. Joints 14 are comprised of gussets 24,34 pivotably connected by links 25. Joints 14 permit two independent degrees of rotational freedom between joined adjacent batten frames, and provide a stable structure throughout all stages of beam deployment, from packaged configuration to complete deployment. The longerons and joints can be actuated in any sequence, independently of one another. The present beam is well suited to remote actuation.

Abstract: A new hub provides flexible or universal coupling for securing struts at the vertices of geodesic type grid or framework. Each hub is formed by a plurality of universal connectors securing adjacent pairs of converging struts forming a closed ring of universal connectors and converging struts at each vertex of the geodesic type spatial framework. Each connector includes a pair of hinge plates or faces positioned at the facing side surfaces of adjacent chords or struts converging at a vertex. Each hinge face is secured in parallel for rotation of the hinge face relative to the side surface of the strut during construction. The universal connectors are formed with hinge ears defining a hinge axis offset from the plane of the corresponding hinge face. Hinge ears from adjacent hinge faces of a universal connector overlap to define a common hinge axis.

Abstract: The ends of cylindrical girders are provided with spherical members mounted thereto. Sets of twelve, eight or four girders can be connected by a single joint, depending upon the configuration thereof. Each joint includes first and second parts which assemble, by means of a single bolt, to form a structure within which the spherical girder end members are received. The joint parts are provided with openings through which the girders extend. Some of the openings are elongated so that the position of the girders extending therethrough can be varied relative to the joint. The joint parts may be provided with external structural rigidity enhancement members.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved free-standing tent frame having at least three four-sided collapsible subframes linked together in side-by-side relation and angled relative to one another so as to stand alone while leaving a gap between the endmost subframes, and a triangularly-segmented roof frame having one more triangular segment than there are subframes in the wall structure. The invention is also characterized by a hub assembly for the subframes of the wall assembly that comprises a series of three or more strut-receiving socket subassemblies hingedly interconnected to produce a closed polygon in which those having four or more sides are self-adjusting to accommodate various included angles between adjacent struts without the latter having to bow or bend.

Abstract: The connection assembly includes two generally L-shaped brackets having arms with through bores defined in their end portions. One of the bores of the first bracket is alignable with a mounting bracket for other component of a linkage system. Similarly, one of the bores of the second L-shaped bracket is alignable with another component of the linkage system. Other bores of the L-shaped brackets are alignable with each other. A bolt is insertable through each of the pairs of aligned shafts to releasably interconnect the parts. A spring is positioned between the head of the bolt and one of the surfaces of the combined parts for exerting a biasing force tending to fix the relative positions between the parts. The connection assembly provides three adjustment axes so that an end of the linkage system can be positioned and releasably retained at any desired orientation.

Abstract: A connecting device for a toy building set includes two identical connectors, each comprising a primary tubular sleeve having a toothed rim on one end face and a secondary tubular sleeve integral with the surface of the primary sleeve. The secondary sleeve is disposed at right angles to the primary sleeve with one end face adjacent the toothed end face of the primary sleeve. The sleeves have a circular cross-section permitting rotation about a shaft, but rotation is prevented by a pair of stop rings which are frictionally and slidably mounted on the shaft and serve to clamp the sleeves together. When assembled, the two connectors are interlocked by meshing of the toothed rims.

Abstract: An object restraint system is provided with a collar for gripping the object and a plurality of struts attached to the collar and to anchor means by universal-type joints, the struts being arranged in tangential relation about the collar.

Abstract: A motor vehicle tire chain system including a plate positioned between a tire rim and a wheel hub, extending outwardly past the tire rim and having a plurality of spaced-apart holes around an external circumference for attaching chain sections. A plurality of individual chain sections, each having a pair of ends adapted to hook in the holes in the plate, position the chain section across the tire tread, traverse the outside of the tire, recross the tire tread and are hooked in the holes on the inside of the tire at a position on the plate opposite the first attaching position. Each chain section is provided with a tensioning device which both tightens the chain and allows it to be easily installed and removed. The chain sections, after mounting on the wheel, are fastened together at their point of common intersection to hold the sections in their positions about the tire tread.

Abstract: An anti-skid tire chain comprising a pair of parallel side chains, a series of traction rings extending medially between the side chains, and a network of connector chains interconnecting the traction rings with the side chains and with one another is characterized in that the connector chains are interconnected in threes by triradial connector plates. Each triradial connector plate consists of three plate elements welded together, each plate element providing a pair of opposite end portions, subtending an angle of 120.degree. to one another and an arcuate mid-portion defining a convex cylindrical surface, the plate elements being mutually welded together at the convex surfaces thereby defining a symmetrical triradial configuration providing three radially extending pairs of parallel arms, each pair of arms defining a clevis for receiving an end link of a respective connector chain, and including a removable clevis pin for retaining the end link.

Abstract: A play gym comprising a horizontal bar from which swings and other rides are suspended is supported at its opposite ends by legs. Special pivot joints connect the pairs of legs to the horizontal bar which permit each pair of legs to be folded together and against the horizontal bar so that the gym can assume a stick-like configuration. When the legs are unfolded to support the horizontal bar, parts of the pivot joints engage the ends of the horizontal bar thereby preventing end-wise movement and racking of the play gym. Provision is also made for substituting one pair of legs by a horizontal pivot arrangement which can be secured to a vertical support so that the gym can be used in a small area and be folded out of the way against the support when not in use.

Abstract: A joint means for light fittings, such as office lamps, comprising pairs of bars arranged after one another and connected with each other by pairs of joint plates. The plates are pressed against each other and the bars with clamping screws. The bars are connected with the joint plates by means of protuberances on the plates extending into holes in the bars.

Abstract: A tilt-up wall panel in raised position is braced with panel brace assemblies, and the panel brace assemblies are braced with a pair of knee brace assemblies for each panel brace assembly, to form a tripod-like structure which eliminates the need for the conventional lateral bracing of the panel brace assemblies. The knee brace assemblies are connected to the wall panel, and for that purpose, two knee brace assemblies extending laterally between a pair of spaced apart panel brace assemblies include a connector common to both and which is connected to the wall panel. A preferred connector includes a base plate adapted to be connected to the wall panel, and a pair of swivel means mounted on one side of the base plate and each forming part of one of the latter two knee brace assemblies.