Abstract: A manually-operable crimping tool for lockingly securing a seal member upon overlapped end portions of plastic strapping is provided with particular structure such that the resulting crimped seal member and overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping have an undulated configuration whereby the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping cannot readily become loosened or disengaged with respect to each other under the influence of axially applied tensile forces. The present invention is also directed toward the particularly structured or configured seal member as well as toward the resulting sealed joint formed or defined between the seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping.

Abstract: A fastening assembly for fastening a first member to a second member comprising at least one threaded fastener having a head at one end thereof, the head having engagement surfaces for a tool, a threaded shank, the other end of the shank having engagement surfaces for a tool, at least one receiving bore in the first member into which the threaded shank is threaded in a pre-mounted state from one end thereof, with the head being spaced from the associated surface of the first member, the second member being preferably of thin sheet material and having at least one elongated opening, the opening having a first portion adapted to allow the entrance of head and a smaller portion adapted to accommodate the shank while the head grips behind the edge of the opening.

Abstract: A leveling or elevational positional adjustment system comprises a leg frame member, a leg extension member, and a leg extension stop member. The leg frame member comprises an external corner component having a substantially arcuate configuration, and an internal cross-plate component disposed across the interior of the corner component. The leg extension member has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration essentially matching that of the external corner component of the leg frame member so as to be disposed in surface-to-surface contact with the external corner component of the leg frame member when the leg extension is inserted into the leg frame member, and the leg extension stop member has an external arcuate cross-sectional configuration also substantially matching that of the leg extension member.

Abstract: A method of assembling roof decking to an underlying substrate comprises the steps of providing a pin having a shank portion and a head portion having a predetermined diametrical extent, and a washer, having a central aperture, disposed upon the shank portion of the pin such that the washer has a diametrical extent which is substantially the same as that of the pin head so as to cooperate therewith in guiding the pin when the pin is axially driven through a drive bore of a fastener-driving tool.

Abstract: A coil handling system, and a method of operating the same, comprises an indexer assembly having a pair of rotatable spindles mounted thereon for supporting a coil of material upon which binding straps are to be placed at predetermined circumferential positions by a strap binding assembly when the rotatable spindles index the coil of material to the predetermined circumferential positions.

Abstract: A plate member, which may be a die plate or a shim, which is adapted to be used within a fluid material dispensing system, such as, for example, a system for dispensing or distributing adhesives upon substrates, is provided with a plurality of apertures equally spaced along the longitudinal extent thereof. The apertures comprise a plurality of through-bores for respectively receiving a plurality of fasteners, which are adapted to secure the plate member to a support structure, for example, an adhesive manifold or the like. In addition to the through-bores, milled slots are also provided within the plate member, the milled slots connecting the through-bores to a free edge portion of the plate member.

Abstract: A masonry anchor is provided with a reaming portion which includes recessed portions for defining reservoir regions for accumulating debris generated by the reaming operation when the anchor is installed within a masonry structure. The accumulation of the debris within the reservoir regions reduces torsional friction and installation torque characteristic of the anchor installation operation. Masonry anchors which are self-tapping or self-threading and which do not have reaming portions operatively associated therewith can also have such recessed reservoir structure defined thereon for such similar dust and debris accumulation and discharge purposes.

Abstract: An expansion anchor installable in a pre-drilled hole formed in a base material. The expansion anchor includes a bolt having a shaft with a head portion, an opposing end portion, and a threaded portion. A shoulder is disposed on the shaft intermediate the head portion and the end portion thereof, and an expandable sleeve is disposed about the shaft between the shoulder and the end portion of the shaft. The expandable sleeve has an expandable upper sleeve portion and an expandable lower sleeve portion wherein the expandable lower sleeve portion is expandable outwardly before the expandable upper sleeve portion is expandable outwardly. A nut having a substantially conical surface is fixed rotationally in the pre-drilled hole and is engagable with the threaded portion of the shaft. The substantially conical surface of the nut is engageable with the expandable lower sleeve portion so as to expand the lower sleeve portion until the nut is axially fixes in the pre-drilled hole.

Abstract: A process for preparing a PET flake mixture for use in connection with the fabrication of high-performance plastic strapping comprises the steps of initially collecting post-consumer and non-post-consumer PET materials having an initially wide range of relatively low intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively low average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value, and processing the same through solid state polymerization (SSP) so as to obtain a wide range of relatively high intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively high average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value. The initially collected materials are chopped into flakes and chunks, and the chunks are flattened so as to render the remaining mixture comprised substantially entirely of flake materials or segments. This is advantageous because the flake segments, as opposed to the chunk segments, are able to be substantially increased in intrinsic viscosity (IV) values and within a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing head assembly which comprises a fluid dispensing head assembly segment or modular unit which is adapted to be secured together with additional segments or modular units whereby resulting fluid dispensing head assemblies of predetermined sizes are able to be achieved in order to meet or satisfy customer dispensing or deposition application requirements. Each fluid dispensing head assembly segment or modular unit is fabricated so as to accommodate, house, or mount a predetermined number of dispensing valve components, such as, for example, six, eight, or ten dispensing valves.

Abstract: A process for preparing a PET flake mixture for use in connection with the fabrication of high-performance plastic strapping comprises the steps of initially collecting post-consumer and non-post-consumer PET materials having an initially wide range of relatively low intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively low average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value, and processing the same through solid state polymerization (SSP) so as to obtain a wide range of relatively high intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively high average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value. The initially collected materials are chopped into flakes and chunks, and the chunks are removed by a suitable destoner so as to render the remaining mixture comprised substantially entirely of flake materials or segments.

Abstract: A plastic film capacitor shield wherein the shield is secured to an outer surface of plastic film capacitor. The shield is sufficient to protect the plastic film capacitor from excessive radiant infrared energy during infrared reflow soldering which could damage the plastic film capacitor. The plastic film capacitor shield can be composed of many different materials such as electrical grade tape, electrical grade plastic, metal tape, or epoxy. The shield can be attached to the capacitor in various ways, which includes: securing a shield to an upper surface of the capacitor; having a shield on an upper and lower surface of the capacitor, wrapping and securing a shield to the plastic film capacitor on four sides of the capacitor; securing a shield on all sides of the capacitor; and securing a combination of different shields to the outer surfaces of the capacitor.

Abstract: A U-nut type fastener installation tool, for installing individual U-nut fasteners from a vertically stacked, nested, or collated strip or array of such fasteners disposed within a magazine portion of the tool, comprises a base portion and the magazine portion which is pivotally mounted upon the base portion. The magazine portion also serves as an operator handle. A biasing spring within the magazine biases the collated strip of fasteners toward a dispensing position. When a fastener is to be dispensed and mounted upon an edge portion of a support plate or panel, the magazine-handle is tilted from its normal position by means of which movement a lowermost one of the fasteners is separated from the collated strip of fasteners remaining within the tool magazine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing packaging bags having lateral bellows, the method being characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of forming respective cutouts (150, 160) in each of the two lateral, bellows-forming zones of a packaging bag sheet (100) so that the bag has only two thicknesses superposed at the mouth of said bellows, at least over a portion of its width; and heat-sealing (184, 186) the adjacent edges of the sheet to the peripheries of the cutouts (150, 160) to close the bag. The invention also provides apparatus for implementing the method and bags obtained thereby.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing head assembly which comprises a fluid dispensing head assembly segment or modular unit which is adapted to be secured together with additional segments or modular units whereby resulting fluid dispensing head assemblies of predetermined sizes are able to be achieved in order to meet or satisfy customer dispensing or deposition application requirements. Each fluid dispensing head assembly segment or modular unit is fabricated so as to accommodate, house, or mount a predetermined number of dispensing valve components, such as, for example, six, eight, or ten dispensing valves.

Abstract: A closure system for an astronaut space suit comprises a frame member provided within a hard, upper torso section of an astronaut space suit, and a hatch or door closure provided within a rear portion of the hard, upper torso section of the space suit such that the closure system comprises a rear-entry type closure. The closure member is provided with an outwardly projecting peripheral flange portion and a seal member operatively associated therewith, while the frame member is provided with a complementary, matable inwardly projecting peripheral flange portion and a seal member operatively associated whereby the closure system is of the pressure-assist closed type. Pressurization of the space suit increases the sealing of the system and the closure cannot be opened without depressurization of the suit.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for indicating a degree of manufacture of an insert molded component useable in an end use assembly by forming a removable appendage protruding from the insert molded component, or article, manufactured to an intermediate degree, the insert molded component having a lead frame at least partially embedded in a molded housing member, and the removable appendage coupled to at least one or both of the lead frame and the molded housing member, the lead frame having at least two electrical conductors coupled separably by a tie member, the removable appendage removable upon or after electrical isolation of the electrical conductors in a subsequent processing step, whereby the presence of the removable appendage is indicative that the electrical conductors are not electrically isolated, or that the insert molded component has not been tested or inspected subsequent to electrical isolation of the electrical conductors, and whereby the removable appendage is configured to prevent use of the

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manually applying stretch film to palletized loads or products comprises a vertically upstanding mast member, a horizontally extending static boom member connected to the mast member, a horizontally extending orbiting boom member rotatably connected to the static boom member, and a vertically extending downright member connected to the orbiting boom member. A carriage assembly carrying a roll of stretch film is movably mounted upon the downright member in a counterbalanced manner, and an operator handle is fixed upon the carriage assembly so as to enable an operator to manually push the carriage assembly, the downright member, and the orbiting boom member in a circular locus around a wrapping station at which a palletized load or product is disposed for wrapping.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for assisting the lifting of a trunk lid of a vehicle comprises a V-shaped leaf spring (12) mounted on a first hinge part (2) attached to the vehicle body, and a roller element (32) mounted on a second hinge part (4) attached to the lid. A compressible gas strut (38) may be connected directly between the lid and the body; alternatively the strut may be connected between the first and second hinge parts, (2, 4) so that the resulting sub-assembly can be mounted directly to the lid and body on the vehicle assembly line. The hinge mechanism assists in initially lifting the trunk lid so that the gas strut (38) is disposed in an advantageous leveraged position at which it can continue the lifting movement of the trunk lid.

Abstract: An electrical switch connector assembly, for mating with an electrical switch, comprises a housing having a plurality of electrical contact members disposed therein, wherein each one of the contact members have insulation-piercing members formed upon first end portions thereof for engaging electrical wires, and leaf-spring members formed upon second end portions thereof for engaging prong contact members of the electrical switch. A cover member is snap-engagingly mounted upon the housing so as to cooperate with the housing in retaining the electrical wires mounted therein, and a strain relief member is also snap-engagingly mounted upon the housing so as to co-operate with the cover member in providing strain-relief characteristics to the electrical wires.