Abstract: A fastening clamp for fastening a molded headliner to a vehicle roof, in particular a panoramic or sliding roof, having a base element which is formed plate-shaped. Two support elements are arranged opposite one another and extend away from the base element and at least substantially towards one another. A latching element projects from the support element and is arranged on each support element for latching the fastening clamp to the molded headliner or to the vehicle roof. The respective latching element has, spaced from the base element, a latching lug for engaging behind an edge section of the molded headliner or of the vehicle roof, and the respective latching lug projects from the outer side of the support element, which side faces away from the opposite support element.

Abstract: Threaded pin made of a starting material, wherein the threaded pin comprises a base, a tip portion, which is spaced apart from the base in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the threaded pin, wherein the tip portion comprises a bridge portion, and a first side wall with an outer profile, said first side wall extending from the bridge portion to a first base part, and a second side wall with an outer profile, said second side wall extending from the bridge portion to a second base part, wherein the first side wall is formed from a different part of the starting material to the second side wall and the first base part is formed from a different part of the starting material to the second base part, wherein part of the first part is in engagement with part of the second base part, and/or part of the first base part is connected to part of the second base part, wherein, as an alternative or in addition, part of the first side wall is in engagement with part of the second side wall, and/or, in addition, part

Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a plurality of plate members stacked and coupled together for rotation relative to each other. A biasing member provides a biasing force tending to cause a rotatable end plate member to rotate in a biasing direction relative to a non-rotatable end plate member. Each plate member has a plurality of notches at its periphery. A SMA wire extends through the plurality of notches so that as the SMA wire is heated, the SMA wire rotates each rotatable plate member from a cold position in a direction opposite the biasing direction to a hot position. As the SMA wire cools, the biasing member rotates each rotatable plate member in the biasing direction from the hot position and returns each rotatable plate member to the cold position.

Abstract: A smart material actuated fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener includes a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material with the shape memory material being a minority of the total fastener materials. A further aspect provides a fastener having workpiece-engaging surfaces made of an inactive and non-shape memory material.

Abstract: An appliance fastening apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a polymeric fastener includes an anti-rotational formation or surface. Another aspect of the appliance fastening apparatus includes a polymeric section essentially encapsulating a metallic nut therein. In yet another aspect, flexible polymeric barbed legs extend through a hole in an appliance wall such that wedge-shaped or barbed sections thereof are essentially on an opposite surface of the appliance wall from a polymeric head and/or metallic nut coupled thereto.

Abstract: A fluid control valve having a shape memory alloy spring for moving the valve member between an open position and a closed position is provided. The valve includes a valve assembly cylinder, a valve assembly cap fitted to the cylinder, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet associated with the cylinder, a first member having a cam follower groove, a second member having a cam operatively associated with the groove, a fluid flow gate associated with one of the members as well as the inlet and the outlet, a return spring associated with one of the members, and the shape memory alloy spring associated with one of the members. The length of the shape memory alloy spring changes in response to changes in temperature. The first member is either a rotating valve or a reciprocating member. The second member is either a reciprocating ring or a rotating valve cylinder.

Abstract: A valve apparatus employs a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, a shape memory member acts as a lock or trigger in combination with a separate actuator or spring to move a valve. Still another aspect uses an externally mounted shape memory member to rotate a valve if an unsafe condition causes movement of the member.

Abstract: A valve apparatus employs a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, a shape memory member acts as a lock or trigger in combination with a separate actuator or spring to move a valve. Still another aspect uses an externally mounted shape memory member to rotate a valve if an unsafe condition causes movement of the member.

Abstract: An attachment system is provided. In another aspect, a latching assembly is mounted to a building roof. Another aspect employs a moveable latch that removeably attaches an auxiliary component, such as a solar panel, to a building in a single motion and/or snap-in installation manner.

Abstract: A spiral fastener is provided. In another aspect, a spiral fastener, is made of layers of material and/or a light curable material. Another aspect uses a three-dimensional printing machine to emit material from an ink jet printing head to build up a fastener having a spiral formation.

Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a plurality of plate members stacked and coupled together for rotation relative to each other. A biasing member provides a biasing force tending to cause a rotatable end plate member to rotate in a biasing direction relative to a non-rotatable end plate member. Each plate member has a plurality of notches at its periphery. A SMA wire extends through the plurality of notches so that as the SMA wire is heated, the SMA wire rotates each rotatable plate member from a cold position in a direction opposite the biasing direction to a hot position. As the SMA wire cools, the biasing member rotates each rotatable plate member in the biasing direction from the hot position and returns each rotatable plate member to the cold position.

Abstract: An attachment system is provided. In another aspect, a latching assembly is mounted to a building roof. Another aspect employs a moveable latch that removeably attaches an auxiliary component, such as a solar panel, to a building in a single motion and/or snap-in installation manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure cap (1) comprising a exterior marginal web (5), a shielding section (4) that protrudes past the marginal web (5), and a hot-melt adhesive (11) which is arranged in the area of the shielding section (4) and is deformable in a plastic manner when heated above a softening temperature. A number of gripping abutment elements (7) are embodied on the marginal web (5) while a joint zone (3) having a reduced flexural rigidity is configured between the marginal web (5) and the shielding section (4). The distance between the abutment elements (7) and the bottom side of the hot-melt adhesive, which faces the marginal web (5), is smaller than the thickness of the material of a basic part (13) in the area of the opening such that an initial tension is created in the joint zone (3) when the closure cap (1) is inserted into the opening, resulting in a simple self-acting closing process after heating the hot-melt adhesive (11).

Abstract: An adjustably mounted spray nozzle (4) for windshield washer fluid of a motor vehicle is designed to be easy to install and adjust. To this end, the spray nozzle (4) has the following features: it has a bearing axis (7) by means of which it can be attached to a vehicle in a manner that enables it to pivot about a y-axis of said vehicle; the spray nozzle (4) is provided with an adjusting-means element for pivoting about its bearing axis (7); the adjusting-means element is designed to cooperate with an adjusting-drive manipulator.

Abstract: A device for fastening cable is provided, the device including a base having a carrier part for holding the cable. A first connecting unit includes a sleeve connected to the carrier part, and the device further includes a second connecting unit comprising a guide part connected to the carrier part and a holding part releasably engageable with the guide part. The guide part includes an outer sleeve that defines a guide cavity for receiving the holding part. The guide cavity has a cross section that is longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. The holding part includes an inner sleeve having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve includes at least one engagement element that engages at least one engagement element on the outer sleeve to fasten the cable to the carrier part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening element comprising a clip part (4), which has a top plate (10), a base plate (3) and a joining section (9). A cutout (11) is made in the top plate (10), and a cutout (5) is made in the base plate (3), these cutouts facing one another. The fastening element also comprises an elongated shaft part (1), which is formed on the base plate (3), has a smooth-wall shaft cutout (2) that leads into the cutout (5) in the base plate and which provided for receiving a connection part. This connection part is provided with an external thread having a nominal diameter and can be guided through the cutout (11) in the top plate and through the cutout (5) in the base plate (3). The cutout (11) in the top plate has, at least in sections, a diameter that is less than the nominal diameter of the external thread but greater than the inside diameter of the shaft cutout (2).

Abstract: A coupling for a fluid conducting system comprises an elongated coupling part (1) and a locking part (20), which can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and which can be mounted on the coupling part (1) in a manner that enables it to slide. The guiding of the locking part (20) ensues via detent elements (24, 25) that engage inside guide recesses (13) of the coupling part (1). The locking part (20) can be fixed in a releasing position or in a locking position by the engagement of detent projections (26, 27) inside releasing recesses (18, 19) or inside locking recesses (16, 17). This enables a relatively problem-free operating of the coupling during opening and closing.

Abstract: A removable plug-in connection for high-pressure lines, in particular brake lines in the construction of motor vehicles. The connection includes a cylindrical receiving housing (1) with a central receiving chamber (2), in addition to a tubular plug-in part, which is equipped with a peripheral retaining rib. An insertion side of the receiving housing (1) has an enlarged receiving chamber (2) in which several radially guided locking elements (5) can be retained, the elements being clamped in a direction of the interior by a retaining ring (14). The locking elements (5) include two half-shells (8) that include retainer wedges (18) that point inwards, engaging behind the retaining rib (4) in a positive fit once the plug-in part (3) has been inserted. Each half-shell (8) has a projecting centering pin on one end face, the pin constituting an extension of the internal wall and engaging in a corresponding cavity on the opposing end face when the two half-shells (8) are assembled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing a housing (1), in particular of a motor-vehicle battery to a carrier plate (3), permitting the housing (1) to be fixed rapidly without complex manipulation and the aid of a tool to the plate (3). To achieve this, a spring-loaded curved fixing part (10) is inserted under tension between the wall of the housing (1) that is placed on the carrier plate(3) and a retaining edge (4) that projects vertically from the carrier plate (3). The fixing part (10) is preferably curved in a U-shape and comprises a hook-shaped section (27) that grips the base of the housing (1) by means of an opening (7) in the carrier plate (3), in addition to a wedge-shaped surface (12) that co-operates with the retaining edge (4) and engagement elements (17, 26) that secure the housing in position.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting two sections (8, 9) of at least one elongate object in an adjustable and detachable manner has a receiving housing (1), has two blocking parts (10, 11) which are mounted in the receiving housing (1) so as to be moveable relative to one another and are arranged such that, in an engagement position, they engage so as to clamp in each case one section, and has guide ducts (3, 4) for defined guidance of the sections (8, 9) in the receiving housing (1). The guide ducts (3, 4) are arranged such that they are aligned with one another axially, while the blocking parts (10, 11) are arranged on the same side of the guide ducts (3, 4). This results in a design which, while providing a high degree of locking action, is very simple and is therefore cost-effective to produce.