Abstract: A self-adjusting stripper pin is for use in a strap chute for a strapping machine and includes a mount mounted to a fixed portion of the strapping machine, a reciprocating pin disposed in the mount for reciprocating movement relative to the mount and a pin spring disposed between the pin and the mount for biasedly mounting the pin to the mount. When the movable wall of the strapping machine is moved toward the fixed wall of the strapping machine, the pin moves out from the track to allow the strap to traverse therethrough and when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall, the pin is moved into the track to urge the strap out of the track. The spring positions the pin at about an outer edge of the track when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall.

Abstract: A display for a bicycle includes a mount, a support arm pivotally mounted to the mount for movement between a storage position and an access position, the support arm having a hanger thereon for hanging the bicycle therefrom, and a cylinder assembly including a dampening cylinder operably connected to the mount and to the support arm to dampen movement of the support arm and to return the support arm to the storage position. The cylinder assembly includes a locking member configured to lock the cylinder in a retracted position to maintain the support arm in the access position and to release the cylinder to permit the support arm to return to the storage position. A clamp arm is mounted to the support arm for pivoting between a securing position to secure the bicycle on the hanger when the support arm is in the storage position and a release position to allow for removing the bicycle from the hanger when the support arm is in the access position.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating the interior of a balloon includes a cylindrical plug with an integrally-formed radially extending integral flange insertable within the balloon neck. A light element is affixed to the plug and disposed within the neck. A battery is electrically connected to the light element and is typically mounted next to the light element, or includes the light element in a single assembly. Switching is provided to turn the lighting element on and off which, in the preferred embodiment is effected by inflating the balloon with the apparatus inserted into the balloon neck. The light element may be affixed to the head of the apparatus by magnetic means, by means of a screw-on cap, or by other well-known techniques.

Abstract: An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetration portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a non-round opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body including a flexible shaft and an actuating element extending transversely from an end of the shaft. The shaft tapers, near the actuating element toward the actuating element to define a transverse dimension. The actuating element has a heel at about a rear surface thereof.

Abstract: A nail having a plurality of grooves configured to reduce the amount of material needed to create the nail and increase the holding power of the nail, while only minimally affecting the bending yield strength of the nail and other important properties. The nail includes a relatively high number of grooves having a relatively shallow depth to retain a cross-sectional geometry of the shank that permits the formation of a full round head of sufficiently large diameter such that pull through resistance of the nail is not significantly affected. Various embodiments of such a nail are disclosed. In a first embodiment, the grooves are semi-circular and are disposed evenly and symmetrically about the circumference of the shank. In a second embodiment, a protrusion is formed at one tangent point (corner) of each of the plurality of grooves. In a third embodiment, a protrusion is formed at each tangent point of each of the plurality of grooves.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for use in a fastener driving tool is formed as a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other and a supporting strip. The strip has a supporting substrate and an adhesive composition thereon. The supporting substrate has an elongated dimension extending generally in the direction of the row of fasteners. The supporting substrate defines upper and lower edges, at least one of which has a scallop formation therein between the fasteners. The scallop formation defines a 3-dimensional profile to stiffen the fastener assembly. The adhesive composition bonds to the fasteners to maintain the fasteners in the substantially parallel arrangement in the row. A method for making the assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-returning horizontal sign system mounts to an associated structure. The system sign includes an upper rail having front and rear, parallel, spaced apart tracks and a lower rail having front and rear, parallel, spaced apart tracks. A pair of panels extend between and span the upper and lower rails. Each panel has a carrier assembly mounted to an upper region thereof for cooperation with a respective front or rear track of the upper rail. The carrier assemblies have at least two rollers that are carried in the upper rail. The panels each move between an open position and a closed position. A closure formed as a pull box is associated each panel and includes a spool having a cable wrapped around it. The spool is rotatable to retract and extract the cable from about the spool. The closure includes a tension bias element operably connected to the spool to bias the spool to retract the cable.

Abstract: A polymeric void-board is placed between adjacent horizontal layers of bricks to maintain an opening in a lower of the layers. The void-board is fabricated from a first relatively thin planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs extending from and generally transverse to the first surface and a second relatively thin planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs extending from and generally transverse to the first surface. The first and second elements are joined to one another with the ribs of the first element engaging and joined to the second element.

Abstract: A non-arcing electrical switch for use with an auxiliary light source for a gaseous discharge lamp includes a current sensing component, a timer power component, an off-delay timer, a voltage control component, and a phase control component. When the light output from the gaseous discharge lamp is interrupted, or during the initial warm up of the gaseous discharge lamp, the non-arcing electrical switch activates an auxiliary lamp to supply temporary illumination. The electrical switch has improved reset reliability and repeatability while decreasing the reset period required during momentary interruptions of the gaseous discharge lamp. Furthermore, the electrical switch requires no negative or minus power supply in order to initiate reset and operates at voltages of less than two volts.

Abstract: An onsite chemistry air filtration system to remove gaseous contaminants from air is disclosed. The onsite chemistry air filtration system of the present invention comprises: a conventional particulate filtration section, a photochemical filtration section, a static gas phase filtration section and a catalytic filtration section. The conventional particulate filtration section captures solids and condensables. In the photochemical filtration section, UV lamps generate bio-destruction and surface photochemical activity on a semiconductor catalyst material, provide a radiation source to irradiate airborne contaminant molecules and to energize their states to promote reactions and generate airborne ozone and radicals. In the static gas phase filtration section, gas phase filtration media is used to capture contaminants, concentrate them in a relatively confined space and allow airborne generated chemistries to concentrate and react in-situ, thereby creating a regeneration effect on the media.

Abstract: A universal suspended anchor system is configured for attaching to a frame having a first vertical wall and a second vertical wall having first and second bearing surfaces, respectively adjacent to and aligned with one another and defining a gap formed between the adjacent bearing surfaces. The universal suspended anchor system includes a bracket and a threaded block affixed to the bracket. The anchor is inserted into the gap and rests on the bearing surfaces. The anchor enables suspension of building service lines including water, HVAC and electrical services.

Abstract: A nail has a head, a penetrating tip and a shank extending from the head to the penetrating tip. The shank has a circumference and a longitudinal axis. A plurality of rows of deformations formed as teeth are formed in the shank extending outwardly of the shank. The rows are formed in a spiral pattern along the length of the shank from about the head to about the penetrating tip. The rows of teeth are formed parallel to one another and formed at an angle of at least 50 degrees relative to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nail.

Abstract: A resin based fluorescent paint with decreased drying time and improved fluorescent durability is formulated from a resin present in a concentration of about 55 percent to about 65 percent, by weight, an active solvent, for and compatible with the resin, present in a concentration of about 5 percent to about 10 percent, by weight, a gelative additive present in a concentration of about 1 percent to about 5 percent, by weight, a rheological additive present in a concentration of about 1 percent to about 5 percent, by weight, an anti-skinning additive present in a concentration of about 1 percent to about 5 percent, by weight, a fluorescent pigment present in a concentration of about 20 percent to about 30 percent, by weight, a synthetic drier in a concentration of less than 1 percent, by weight, and a wetting agent in a concentration of about less than 1 percent, by weight. The paint of the present invention is particularly suited for the purpose of detection of vibration loosening or tampering.

Abstract: A sterilization challenge specimen holder is used with a test indicator to challenge sterilization on a consistent basis. The holder includes a body having an internal chamber region. A cap is sealable on the holder. An opening is defined in the body or cap that forms a single tortuous ingress and egress path communicating the interior chamber with the environs. An insulating layer is disposed over the body and cap to fully insulate the body and cap other than over the opening so as to not interfere with the ingress and egress path. The insulating layer reduces the heat transference from the environs to the interior chamber region.

Abstract: A device 60 for fixing together first and second side-by-side beams of a kind having first and second spaced apart flanges connected by a web. The device 60 comprises a member 62 having first and second opposing ends 64, 66 and is configured to extend from a first flange to a second flange of the beams. The device further comprises at least one portion 68, 70 extending laterally of each of said first and second opposing ends with the at least one portion at the first opposing end being configured to be fixed to an outer surface of the first flange of the first beam and the at least one portion at the second opposing end being configured to be fixed to an outer surface of the second flange of the second beam.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool is configured to drive a threaded fastener using both linear and rotational motion. The tool allows a fastener to first be driven linearly, without rotation, through a surface material and into a substrate material, preferably to a depth that causes the fastener to at least pierce the substrate material. The tool then rotates the threaded fastener and causes it to fully engage the substrate material, thereby fastening the surface material to the substrate material. The tool has sufficient linear force to drive a fastener into relatively hard substrate materials, such as steel studs, and has a stationary air motor assembly to reduce recoil generated during the driving process. The tool further comprises a gear reducer assembly that uses a compound planetary gear in order to reduce the overall length of the tool.

Abstract: A modular strap dispenser for a strapping machine comprises includes a mount for rotatably mounting a coiled spool of strap and a feeding mechanism for drawing strap directly from the spool, feeding the strap directly to the strapping machine and retracting and tensioning the strap. The feeding mechanism is driven by a variable speed feed motor controlled by a feed motor controller. The feed motor controller is operatively connected to a strapper control system that controls both the feed motor controller and the strapping head of the strapping machine. The dispenser may include a braking system to control the rotation of the spool. The dispenser also may include an accumulator box configured to accept and store take-up strap generated during strap tensioning. The dispenser may further include a strap guide for guiding the strap from the spool to the feeding mechanism.