Abstract: A slip roller conveyor has a frame comprising a pair of parallel, spaced-apart side plates. Secured to each of the side plates is a plurality of annular rollers with a predetermined pitch distance between adjacent rollers. The annular rollers have tubular sleeves of a lesser diameter projecting outward from a side surface thereof. The tubular sleeves on an opposed pair of annular rollers fit into the lumen of a longer tubular roller with a clearance fit. The annular rollers on each of the side plates are driven by an endless belt that also surrounds a motor-driven nose roller.

Abstract: A card connector base is mounted on a printed circuit board and has a metal-inserted housing, a pair of hooking assemblies and a card tray. The metal-inserted housing has a metal substrate and an insulative body. The insulative body is mounted securely on the metal substrate by an insert-molding process. The hook assemblies are mounted on the metal-inserted housing. The card tray is detachably mounted slidably in the metal-inserted housing. Because the metal substrate formed from the sheet-metal is thin and has fine structure strength such as tensile strength and compressive strength, the metal-inserted housing with the metal substrate is more compact and more structurally strong when compare to conventional insulative housings.

Abstract: A live insect habitat that also serves as a retail receptacle for point of sale display of the insects. In particular, the invention comprises a cricket habitat and point of sale display receptacle for the sale of live crickets primarily for fishing bait and pet food purposes. The habitat/receptacle includes a housing having side walls with a sight window formed therein for purposes of permitting viewing of the inside of the housing and insect habitat from the outside. A habitat insert is located inside the housing and includes a multiple-sided member that partitions the interior space of the housing into discrete subspaces connected by passages giving the crickets ample room in which to crawl about. The housing and the habitat insert can be made of a moisture absorbent material in order to reduce the moisture content of the cricket environment. An item of cricket food is located in the housing whereby the retail habitat/receptacle has a prolonged shelf life while maintaining healthy live crickets.

Abstract: A self-anchoring fastening device for installation in supports for hanging pipes wires or other articles in ceilings is shaped for a socket to drive the device for an easy installation process. The device comprises a collapsible anchoring portion having radially expanding anchoring strips, which will not pull out of a hole drilled in a support. A drill drills a hole in a support and an expandable anchor is inserted through the hole. Threads internal to the expandable anchor cooperate with threads on a screw inserted therein to collapse the expandable anchor, providing anchoring strips over the hole such that the expandable anchor cannot be pulled out of the hole. A threaded portion of the base of the screw is suitable for attaching the article to be hung. The base may be a swivel head type. The drill may be on the expendable anchor assembly.

Abstract: A stepped light guide has an incident surface, an emitting surface and a stepped reflecting structure. The emitting surface is adjacent to the incident surface. The stepped reflecting structure is adjacent to the incident surface, faces the emitting surface and has a proximal end, a distal end, multiple planar surfaces and multiple inclined surfaces. The proximal end is adjacent to the incident surface. The distal end is opposite to the proximal end. The planar surfaces are parallel to and separated from the emitting surface by a depth, the depth being gradually reduced from the proximal end to the distal end. The inclined surfaces are formed between every two adjacent planar surfaces. The light guide effectively changes a linear or point light source into a surface light source having uniform illumination.

Abstract: A conical helix decorative Christmas tree with lights attached is supported either on a pole or a bracket extending from a wall. If a pole is used, the base may be in a tree stand or a bracket attached to a wall. In both embodiments the base of the helix has a circle aligned by a plurality of strings attaching the circumference of the circle to a washer at the radial center of the helix. More than one helix may be used in this manner to form the tree. A shroud may be used to add a translucent decorative effect. A topper of a star, angel or continuation of the conical tree to a point may be added at the top of the conical helix tree. The tree can be attached to horizontal or vertical surfaces.

Abstract: A lens actuating apparatus includes a fixed part, a moving part and at least one flexible part. The moving part is movably located on the fixed part. The flexible part has four contacting portions that form a hollow enclosed body. Two contacting portions that are located at the diagonal direction fasten the fixing part, and the other two contacting portions that are located at another diagonal direction contact the moving part. When the moving part has a movement related to the fixed part, the contacting portions of the flexible part contacted the moving part move far away from the fixed part. Thereby, the moved contacting portions exert a flexible recovery force to the moving part. The flexible part can be fully utilized in a limited space and does not affect the allocation of the other elements.

Abstract: A punch press alignment instrument has upper and lower cylindrical components that are associated for vertical displacement relative to one another. Both components have outer tool holder engaging surfaces which are to be aligned with one another so as to in turn align the tool holders of the punch press when the upper and lower components themselves are in alignment. Alignment elements, e.g., ridges and grooves provided on mating surfaces of the components confronting each other are brought into contact with one another to move the components of the instrument into mutual alignment. An alignment control member, e.g., a screw is preferably provided for progressively bringing the upper and lower components toward one another and an indicator such as a lamp, a dial indicator or an audible indicator is provided for denoting the spacing between the upper and lower components to thereby confirm the alignment of the tool holders.

Abstract: A muscle exerciser having a first pulley mounted on a motor shaft of a motor, a second pulley mounted on a pulley shaft and connected to the first pulley through a transmission belt, two transmission wheels respectively connected two ends of the pulley shaft, two transmission links connected to the wheels, and two sliding seats connected to the links. The transmission wheels are respectively connected to the transmission links oppositely such that the two sliding seats are moved close to or away from each other along sliding tracks when the wheels are rotated. Thus, the quick sliding of the sliders strengthens the muscle of the hands/feet placed on the sliding seats.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a latch and an activating piece. The latch has at least one hook and a slope. A fulcrum is formed between the hook and the slope. The hook can be combined with an open hole of a guiding frame. The activating piece has an annular structure and a slope structure. The slope structure is provided on the slope. By pulling or releasing the annular structure, the slope structure can push or be separated from the slope. Via the lever principle, the latch makes the hook to ascend or descend. In this way, the electrical connector can be separated from or connected with a corresponding female electrical connector in the guiding frame more easily. Further, the structure of the electrical connector is simple, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and facilitating the manufacturing and assembling process.

Abstract: A live insect habitat that also serves as a retail receptacle for point of sale display of the insects. In particular, the invention comprises a cricket habitat and point of sale display receptacle for the sale of live crickets primarily for fishing bait and pet food purposes. The habitat/receptacle includes a housing having side walls with a sight window formed therein for purposes of permitting viewing of the inside of the housing and insect habitat from the outside. A habitat insert is located inside the housing and includes a multiple-sided member that partitions the interior space of the housing into discrete subspaces connected by passages giving the crickets ample room in which to crawl about. The housing and the habitat insert can be made of a moisture absorbent material in order to reduce the moisture content of the cricket environment. An item of cricket food is located in the housing whereby the retail habitat/receptacle has a prolonged shelf life while maintaining healthy live crickets.

Abstract: A guidewire for medical use such as in vascular and nonvascular systems. The guidewire made from a titanium molybdenum alloy wire with a composition of approximately 78% titanium 11.5% molybdenum 6% zirconium and 4.5% tin by weight such that it is softer than stainless steel guidewires and stiffer than NiTi alloy guidewires. The distal end of the guidewire is of a smaller diameter and softer than the proximal end and fitted with a coil for springiness such that the distal end will bend when encountering curves in the body passageways. The distal tip may be heat treated for a gradient of softness with the distal tip being the softest. The distal end may also be tapered to provide an additional gradient of softness. A distal tip on the distal end of the guidewire protects the wall of the passageway from being punctured as the guidewire travels through the passageway.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver with extended 1-second hot start capability has an RF chip, a baseband chip, a battery and a LDO regulator. When the GPS receiver is turned on, a main supply voltage charges the battery to store backup power. Once the main supply voltage is turned off, the baseband starts a countdown period. During the countdown period, critical portion of the RF chip, the baseband chip and the regulator use the backup power to continue keeping time. If the GPS receiver is restarted during the countdown period, the GPS receiver has retained information to allow 1-second hot start and the GPS receiver generates position fix instantaneously.

Abstract: A live insect habitat that also serves as a retail receptacle for point of sale display of the insects. In particular, the invention comprises a cricket habitat and point of sale display receptacle for the sale of live crickets primarily for fishing bait and pet food purposes. The habitat/receptacle includes a housing having side walls with a sight window formed therein for purposes of permitting viewing of the inside of the housing and insect habitat from the outside. A habitat insert is located inside the housing and includes a multiple-sided member that partitions the interior space of the housing into discrete subspaces connected by passages giving the crickets ample room in which to crawl about. The housing and the habitat insert can be made of a moisture absorbent material in order to reduce the moisture content of the cricket environment. An item of cricket food is located in the housing whereby the retail habitat/receptacle has a prolonged shelf life while maintaining healthy live crickets.

Abstract: A scraper for plowing and gathering earth specifically adapted to fit to the front end of a skid steer vehicle. The scraper includes a frame for holding a scraper bowl. A caster wheel assembly is coupled to the front end of the scraper frame and is adapted to cause the scrapper bowl to adjust to the terrain. A hydraulic actuation assembly is arranged to lift the scraper bowl to carry its contents from a first site to a second site. A gate is coupled to the front end of the scraper bowl to capture the contents of the scraper bowl when its contents are moved from a first site to a second site. An implement quick-attach assembly is also provided for coupling the skid steer vehicle to the scraper frame in such a way that the frame can be made to pivot to vary the pressure between the earth being traversed and the cutting blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for weaving leno fabric on a loom including a support pivotally mounted on a loom, and carrying a plurality of ground thread blades arranged side by side in a row and spaced apart to define guide spaces therebetween for ground threads. A leno guide blade divides each guide space into first and second guide slots, each leno guide blade having a leno guide eye through which a leno thread is guided, adjacent ground thread blades projecting beyond the terminal end of the leno guide blade located therebetween to define a ground thread cross-over space.