Abstract: A compression nut assembly is provided including a base nut and a compression nut. The base nut includes a base shaft having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the base shaft includes a plurality of internal threads extending in a first handedness direction. The compression nut includes a compression shaft having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the compression shaft includes a plurality of external threads extending in the first handedness direction and engagable with the internal threads of the base shaft. The interior surface of the compression shaft includes a plurality of internal threads extending in a second handedness direction opposite the first handedness direction.

Abstract: An electrical ground strap assembly for attaching a terminal, the electrical ground strap assembly including a bolt and a crown. The bolt includes a head, a body including an incline portion, and a shaft, the incline portion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a planar surface of the head. The crown includes a chamfer, the chamfer oriented at an angle corresponding to the incline portion of the bolt.

Abstract: A threaded fastener having a prevailing torque feature and a method for forming same includes a barrel having a longitudinal axis. The barrel has a plurality of internal threads, each internal thread including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface. A first angle between the rearward facing surface and a first lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ranges from 20° to 40°. A second angle between the forward facing surface and the rearward facing surface ranges from 80° to 100°.

Abstract: A threaded fastener having a prevailing torque feature and a method for forming same includes a barrel having a longitudinal axis. The barrel has a plurality of internal threads, each internal thread including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface. A first angle between the forward facing surface and a first lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ranges from 20° to 40°. A second angle between the forward facing surface and the rearward facing surface ranges from 80° to 100°.

Abstract: An electrical ground strap assembly for attaching a terminal, the electrical ground strap assembly including a bolt and a crown. The bolt includes a head, a body including an incline portion, and a shaft, the incline portion is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a planar surface of the head. The crown includes a chamfer, the chamfer oriented at an angle corresponding to the incline portion of the bolt.

Abstract: An electrical ground strap assembly for an automotive vehicle. The assembly includes a carrier plate, a bolt having an incline portion, and a nut having an interior chamfer, the interior chamfer being oriented at an angle corresponding to the incline portion of the bolt. In use, the electrode is lowered onto the bolt and the nut is then lowered onto the bolt and the electrode. As the nut comes into contact with the electrode, the electrode is deformed therebetween to provide a mating fit between the incline portion of the bolt and the interior chamfer of the nut.

Abstract: A panel nut including an upper arm, a lower arm, and at least one transition arm extending between the upper arm and the lower arm to allow the upper arm to elastically deflect with respect to the lower arm is disclosed. The upper arm includes a forward flange, an inner member having a first end and an opposite second end, an outer member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a thread housing formed on the inner member. The lower arm includes a forward edge, an opposite rear end, a retainer hinge, and a retainer extending from the retainer hinge toward the rear end and toward the upper arm. The retainer is configured to elastically deflect between an unstressed position and a stressed position to be received within the thread housing when in the unstressed position.

Abstract: A powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder either with or without a liquid is presented. The apparatus includes a base, dispenser, and tower. The base is adapted for receiving a container. The dispenser includes a rotatable or slidable carriage. The carriage includes at least one compartment horizontally disposed above an optional funnel. The carriage is rotatable about a central axis or translatable parallel to and below the hopper. A hopper is disposed above the carriage and communicates with less than all compartments. Each compartment is capable of separately dispensing a powder from the hopper into the funnel and thereafter into the container resting on the base. The tower is disposed between and attached at opposing ends to the base and the dispenser. The apparatus is useful, for example, in preparing baby formula and other food for infants, as well as in preparing food and drink for children and adults.

Abstract: A powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder either with or without a liquid is presented. The apparatus includes a base, a dispenser, and a tower. The base is adapted for receiving a container. The dispenser includes a rotatable carriage contacting a support element with an opening. The carriage includes a plurality of compartments horizontally disposed above an optional funnel and rotatable about a central axis. A hopper is disposed above the carriage and communicates with less than all compartments. Each compartment is capable of separately dispensing a powder from the hopper through the opening into the funnel and thereafter into the container resting on the base. The tower is disposed between and attached at opposing ends to the base and the dispenser. The apparatus is useful, for example, in preparing baby formula and other food for infants, as well as in preparing food and drink for children and adults.

Abstract: A powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder either with or without a liquid is presented. The apparatus includes a base, dispenser, and tower. The base is adapted for receiving a container. The dispenser includes a rotatable or slidable carriage. The carriage includes at least one compartment horizontally disposed above an optional funnel. The carriage is rotatable about a central axis or translatable parallel to and below the hopper. A hopper is disposed above the carriage and communicates with less than all compartments. Each compartment is capable of separately dispensing a powder from the hopper into the funnel and thereafter into the container resting on the base. The tower is disposed between and attached at opposing ends to the base and the dispenser. The apparatus is useful, for example, in preparing baby formula and other food for infants, as well as in preparing food and drink for children and adults.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating delivery of a fully-integrated physical item providing access to content is presented. The system includes a local system and a gift key facilitating access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, product information, marketing materials, donation, promotion, or credit after linkage between the local system and the gift key. The method includes enabling access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, product information, marketing materials, donation, promotion, or credit from a remote system after a gift key is linked to a local system. The gift key includes a cover with optional bar code, an integrated circuit, and a physical or wireless interface. The local system could be a personal, laptop or handheld computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a Smart TV. The gift key could be directly attached to a box, bag, ribbon, envelope, or gift wrapping or configured as a sticker with an adhesive backing.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating delivery of a fully-integrated physical item providing access to non-physical content is presented. The method includes enabling access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit from a remote system after a gift key is linked to a local system. The system includes a local system and a gift key facilitating access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit after linkage between the local system and the gift key. The gift key includes a decorative cover with bar code, an integrated circuit, and an antenna or physical connector. The local system is a personal, laptop or handheld computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a Smart TV.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating delivery of a fully-integrated physical item providing access to non-physical content is presented. The method includes enabling access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit from a remote system after a gift key is linked to a local system. The system includes a local system and a gift key facilitating access to an electronic greeting card, exclusive content, promotion, and/or store credit after linkage between the local system and the gift key. The gift key includes a decorative cover, an integrated circuit, and an antenna or physical connector. The local system is a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a Smart TV. A gift key could be disposed along a box, a bag, a ribbon, an envelope, or a gift wrapping or configured as a sticker with an adhesive backing.

Abstract: A system and method for a physically-based gift key enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully-integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key, customizing an electronic greeting card associated with the gift key at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key to a first local computer, accessing the greeting card at the host site via linkage of the gift key to a second local computer, and redeeming a store credit associated with the gift key at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes a gift key and a host computer system directly or indirectly controlling a host site. The gift key has a housing, an integrated circuit within the housing, and a connector or wireless interface extending from the housing so as to allow linkage of the gift key with a computer remotely located with respect to the host and retailer sites.