Abstract: A percussion instrument, including a drum of any variety, having a tension member disposed between the drumhead and the end of the shell of the drum. The tension member maintains substantially constant radial tension on the skin in light of ambient conditions. The tension member may be a rigid member fixedly coupled to the end of the shell.

Abstract: A display package for point-of-purchase display of an article such as a musical instrument sounded by shaking or rotating. The display package has a first opening for facilitating grasping and manipulation of the package by a consumer. A second opening permits sound to be emitted by the instrument. The second opening may be shaped for allowing appendages of the musical instrument to strike a percussion surface of the musical instrument upon rotation of the package.

Abstract: A display package for point-of-purchase display of an article such as a musical instrument having a percussion surface and a sounding aperture. The package has a top panel and a bottom panel, each of the top and bottom panels having openings, one for allowing consumer access to the percussion surface and the second for permitting emission of sound from the sounding aperture of the instrument. A collar shelf is coupled to the rear panel and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the top panel for preventing motion of the instrument in any direction having a component tangential to the top panel.

Abstract: A rotary damper includes a housing and a vane. There is an indentation in the housing which permits fluid to flow readily from one side of the vane to the other during part of the rotary stroke. At the end of the rotary stroke, there is an alternative path for fluid to take from one side of the vane to the other, and this path preferably includes an adjustable aperture so the amount of damping at the end of the stroke can be adjusted.

Abstract: A molded piston includes a base plate, having a plurality of holes, and a polymeric material molded around the base plate and extending through the holes so as to form a mechanical bond between the base plate and the polymeric material. The molded piston preferably includes integral seals in its outer circumferential surface and integral standoffs on its end surfaces. In some preferred embodiments, the molded piston also includes a magnet which creates a magnetic field in the area of the piston.

Abstract: A rotary actuator and a linear actuator are combined to provide an output shaft with independent linear and rotary motion. The linear actuator causes the rotary actuator to move linearly, and there is a guide which restricts the movement of the rotary actuator to linear motion and a bearing which receives the output shaft of the rotary actuator to prevent orbiting and deflection of the rotary output shaft.

Abstract: A rotary clamping device includes a rotary actuator and an L-shaped base, with a gripper device mounted on the output shaft of the rotary actuator. The construction is very simple and lightweight, so that, in the preferred embodiment, it is made up primarily of four extruded parts in addition to the actuator.

Abstract: A system for preventing scratches, dents and die marks on sheet metal parts during bending and forming operations. The system holds a supply of protective material, such as plastic film, canvas or sailcloth, on a roll or other convenient form and applies the protective material across the die and/or the punch of a press brake or other sheet metal bending or forming equipment. The system is configurable to cover a die or punch of practically any size from a few inches to several feet. The system is programmable to advance the protective material a preset amount after a given number of cycles of the equipment. Different configurations of the system are described which advance the protective material longitudinally along the punch or die or transversely across the punch or die of the press brake.

Abstract: An alkaline positive and negative resist stripping composition having low volatility and operable at temperatures less than about 90.degree. C. which comprises,A. about 10 to 30% by weight of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol;B. about 5 to 30% by weight of a polyhydric alcohol;C. about 10 to 30% by weight of the reaction product of one mole of furfuryl alcohol with about 1 to 20 moles of an alkylene oxide,D. about 1 to 30% by weight of a water soluble Bronstead base type of hydroxide compound, andE. the remainder being water.The composition comprising a ratio of organic materials to inorganic materials to about 0.25:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides housing member for a rotary fluid powered actuator including a cylindrical housing member having an opening in at least one end, a head member received on each open end of the housing where each head has a central aperture in generally aligned relation with the longitudinal axis of the housing, a shaft member to extend through the central aperture for rotation therein and journal means to journal the shaft in the housing adjacent each end thereof and a vane member to extend outwardly from the shaft member for rotation therewith in response to fluid pressure in the housing where the housing member includes at least one stator member, integral therewith extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the housing and adapted to receive a seal member to provide a seal between the termination of the stator and the shaft and members extending along a portion of the length of the housing to define bolt passages, and bolt members to be received in the bolt passage where the bolt member

Abstract: A seal arrangement for use in a rotary actuator having a housing and an end wall where a shaft extends through an aperture in the end wall and and carries a vane, a stator assembly is provided and directly inwardly from the housing having an end edge in adjacent relation with the end wall and a longitudinal edge adjacent the shaft. A groove is provided extending longitudinally along the end edge and the longitudinal edge and is adapted to receive a generally rectangular stator seal member so the stator seal member end edge abuts the end wall to provide a fluid seal therebetween and where an annular groove is provided around the shaft receiving aperture and is adapted to receive a generally circular ring seal. The generally circular "O" ring seal includes a tab member having a thickness less than the thickness of the "O" ring member and the tab extends radially outwardly from the "O" ring member parallel to the groove of the end edge to engage the stator seal member.