Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing an HVAC system. The method involves using a plate which is circular in shape and has four inner cut-out portions which are capable of being manually removed by an operating engineer. To reduce flow to a minimum, all four rings are left on the plate. To allow a progressively greater amount of air flow, more rings are removed from the circular plate. Such enables the equalization of the various rooms in an HVAC system without the addition of costly upstream dampers. The circular plate is attached to a duct via four small protruding ear elements.

Abstract: An angle ceiling bracket, hanger or support which is specially designed for use with sloped ceilings of the type found in attics or the second or third stories of residences or related building structures. The design is such that it has virtually universal application for any type or angle of sloped ceiling so that a new bracket need not be designed for various ceiling work sites. The hanger design is contemplated for use with closet clothes hanger rods and has many other possible uses.

Abstract: A utility truck is specially modified in order to accommodate a lift, hoist or crane unit. Portions of the utility truck elongated lateral tool boxes and compartments are cut out and shelving is provided to support the lower portions of the lift or crane. The design allows a load such as a large electrical or telephone box to be transported and unloaded by a single operator. The design enables protection from the harsher winter conditions of colder parts of the earth such as the north U.S. and Canada.

Abstract: A flat-bed truck system and method for efficiently delivering and unloading items using special crane, lift or hoist elements. The cranes are foldable downward into a horizontal position. Lower plural and parallel drive elements are used to drive upper pivoting arms which are connected by a cross-bar element. The cranes are designed with a low center of gravity so they may be positioned at various points around the bed of the truck. The lower plural drive elements are fixed in a horizontal position by brackets which may be easily applied and removed.

Abstract: A sense amplifier (11) and method for sensing a MRAM cell (77) is provided. The sense amplifier (11) includes a precharge circuit (13?) having an operational amplifier (40, 42) that uses a voltage divider (115, 116) in a feedback path to control the amount of charge stored on a capacitor (104, 105). During a precharge portion of a read operation, the charge stored on the capacitor (104, 105) is used to precharge the sense amplifier (11). By using charge sharing to precharge the sense amplifier (11), the sense amplifier (11) can be precharged to a steady state common mode voltage more quickly, thus decreasing time required for a read operation.

Abstract: A manufacturing system and method for use in the production of high strength plastic materials which can be used in the construction arts. The system and method includes a central rotary mold element which has vacuum means and cooling means placed inside thereof. Heating elements are positioned exteriorly of the rotary mold. Treated long fiber sheets are introduced to the rotary mold and combined with plastic sheets which are also fed to the mold.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of a transponder in its vicinity is provided, which comprises an antenna, a pulse generation unit, a unit adapted to feed the antenna with the pulses and a unit for measuring the damped oscillations of the antenna as a consequence of being fed with the pulses, the unit for measuring the damped oscillations of the antenna determining whether a transponder is present or not in the vicinity of the antenna on the basis of the characteristics of the damped oscillations.

Abstract: A manufacturing system and method for use in the production of high strength plastic materials which can be used in the construction arts. The system and method includes a central rotary mold element which has vacuum means and cooling means placed inside thereof. Heating elements are positioned exteriorly of the rotary mold. Treated long fiber sheets are introduced to the rotary mold and combined with plastic sheets which are also fed to the mold.

Abstract: A press-stud with lateral locking, having a male component and a female component which must be associable with each other, the female component has a seat which is suitable to accommodate, by insertion, the head of a mushroom-shaped element which protrudes from the male component; the seat can be accessed by the head through an opening which has a first larger part which allows insertion of the head and a second smaller part whose dimensions are intermediate between the dimensions of the head and the dimensions of the stem, the seat accommodating elastic contrast elements which allow the head to move over them during insertion and extraction, with a movement of the head toward the first part of the opening that is larger than the second smaller part, and viceversa.

Abstract: A material handling and manufacturing system which includes separate temporary storage facilities so that loaded trailers may be dropped off without an extended waiting time. The manufacturing method utilizes plural entry ports at various points along an assembly line to reduce in-house storage and handling of materials. A subcombination material handling tray is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spotlight with perimetrical delimitation of the emitted light beam, comprising a light source for emitting a light beam, an optical element that can move axially with respect to the light beam in order to adjust the breadth of the light beam, and a Fresnel lens for diffusing the light beam. Beam adjusting elements are provided for delimiting perimetrically the light beam which are associated with the optical element and can move axially with it.

Abstract: A modular cage comprising first and second profiled elements connected by interlocking corner joints for reversible joining so as to constitute a supporting frame and grille-like wall elements connected to the frame to constitute the cage, with the corner joints comprising each a corner body from which tangs extend monolithically and at right angles, the tangs being provided with reversible locking devices which enter corresponding first longitudinally elongated seats formed in the profiled elements.

Abstract: A distribution unit for electric power and communications signals, particularly adapted to be used in combination weighers in order to supply power to individual heads of the weigher; the distribution unit is composed of a flexible printed circuit, which is manufactured flat and is provided with a plurality of multipole connectors for supplying power to the heads of a combination weigher and connect them to the communications network; the printed circuit is mounted on a substantially cylindrical structure, so that the multipole connectors are each arranged along a generatrix of the cylinder and the connectors of the weighing heads can be coupled to them radially.

Abstract: A reclosable container, particularly for fluid products, comprising a hollow body for containing the product which has, in an upward region, a neck provided with a dispensing opening and closure means constituted by a grip portion which supports a closure for the opening, the closing means being rigidly coupled to the grip portion, and by at least one annular band which is substantially coaxial to the closure and is fixed to the grip portion along preset-fracture regions formed on its outer surface and is fitted so as to adhere to the neck.

Abstract: A sports shoe, comprising a soft upper provided with a cuff and with a rear counter which are semirigid and are separately connected to the upper, an additional semirigid element that is associated with the upper or monolithically coupled thereto, in an intermediate region, between the cuff and the counter, the additional semirigid element having, at the rear and/or laterally, at least one first tab and at least one second tab for sliding engagement in first guides formed in the cuff and in the counter.

Abstract: A sporting shoe equipped with a device to control the flexion of the toe includes a localized low friction protection body, particularly for a technical boot designed for practicing the sport of motorcycling, removable, attached along one side of the shoe with the use of reciprocal holder and engaging at least part of the point and of the side. The protection body is hinged to a second element, placed at the back, fixed along the external side of the shoe or a part of it, with the cooperation of a third element ovelapping the first two, which, engaging the second, provides two opposite stops that limit the run of the protection body and of the toe part of the relative shoe, or of a part thereof with respect to the back part.

Abstract: A faucet with pull-out dispenser comprising a tubular body that is adapted to accommodate a flexible element to which the dispenser is fixed at one end, the tubular body comprising snap-acting elements that are adapted to retain detachably, by elastic deformation, the dispenser in the position in which the flexible element is fully retracted into the body.

Abstract: A covering for protecting surfaces in general, which comprises a sheet body that forms an internal supporting frame, to which a layer of self-sealing thermoplastic polymer is connected; the layer forms at least one face of the sheet-like body, the sheet-like body having protrusions for engaging a surface to be covered.

Abstract: A method for trimming loose threads in circular knitting machines, comprising the steps of: starting from an initial pattern and on the basis of a given type of circular knitting machine, if one wishes to trim the loose threads, measuring a distance between needles of the same color on a same row in order to check whether the distance is at least equal to, or greater than, a minimum distance that allows to perform trimming of the loose threads; if the distance is shorter than the minimum distance, replacing a portion of the pattern with at least one special color that identifies a different type of knitting process for the portion of pattern, to be performed on the circular knitting machine; modifying the pattern on the basis of the replacement of the portion of pattern; producing an advancement by a number of rows equal to the number of drops of the knitting machine that are active; and encoding the pattern with the modifications, in order to perform the knitting process.