Abstract: A customizable bracelet or belt that has a matrix of evenly spaced holes all around the article. Inserts such as pegs, rhinestones, and charms are configured to be inserted through any of the holes and will be snugly secured inside the hole. In this way, a very large number of configurations can be designed by a user by using different combinations of the inserts. The configurations can be in a particular pattern, spell words, etc.

Abstract: An adjustable finger ring apparatus and associated method are described for forming at least a portion of a finger ring. A shank includes a thickness that extends between an opposing pair of side surfaces such that the thickness defines a cavity including a through opening for receiving the support member for movement in opposing directions to increase and decrease the size of a finger aperture. At least one of the side surfaces defines an access opening to adjoin the through opening for access to the support member for at least one of moving the support member and maintaining a selected position of the support member.

Abstract: Clasp comprising a cover connected to a first bracelet strand and to a second bracelet strand, a connecting means being inserted between the second bracelet strand and the cover of the clasp, the connecting means comprising an end link sliding between a first position in which it is engaged in the cover of the clasp, and a second position in which it is outside the cover of the clasp, the end link comprising a push-button which causes a toothed element to change from a first position, in which the toothed element is in mesh with a rack toothing, to a second position, in which the toothed element is released, the end link being provided with an arresting means preventing the removal of the end link from the cover of the clasp, the arresting means comprising at least one lug, which projects into a groove arranged in the bottom of the cover and which defines two end stop members.

Abstract: A nasal tube fastener for securing a nasal tube to a person's clothing so as to reduce the opportunity for the tube to be entangled with other objects or to get in the way of the wearer of the tube, such fastener comprising a pair of engageable magnetic fasteners of opposite polarity to each other, the magnetic portions preferably connected to each end of a strap engagement portion connected to each magnetic fastener and extending transverse thereto.

Abstract: An interconnector for coupling together an adjacent pair of freight containers (100, 101) having ISO corner fittings (102). The interconnector has a rotatable shaft (405) and a pair of clamping heads (403, 404, 1100) provided at each end of the shaft (405). The shaft (405) is mounted within a housing (401) and the clamping heads (403, 404, 1100) are capable of axial rotation with the shaft (405) relative to the housing (401). One clamping head (403, 404, 1100) has a profiled guide surface to be rotatable by engaging contact with the ISO corner fitting (102). The clamping heads (403, 404, 1100) are biased to a clamping position by a bias actuator, such that the interconnector may be regarded as an automatic or semi-automatic twist lock interconnector.

Abstract: A cable lacing tie device includes a head assembly and a cable lacing tape. The head assembly being configured to retain a first portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly and having a length of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The head assembly further adapted to retain a second portion of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The methods of using the cable lacing tie devices include retaining a first portion of a cable lacing tape in a head assembly, looping the cable lacing tape around a plurality of objects, and retaining a second portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly.

Abstract: A clasp system for attaching two elements, comprising first and second parts (A, B) each having a body (10, 11) for attachment to a respective one of the elements. The first and second parts having a fastening means comprising first and second fastening portions (1, 6), the first part including the first fastening portion and the second part including the second fastening portion. The first fastening portion and the second fastening portion are respectively configured for clipping engagement to fasten the first and second parts together. The unfastening comprises a relative twist movement of the first and second parts to unclip the first and second fastening portions. The first and second parts further comprise magnetic material (2, 3, 4, 5) arranged to pull the first and second parts together into the clipping engagement when the first and second parts are relatively oriented in a predetermined manner and spaced less than a predetermined maximum distance apart.

Abstract: A trim retainer assembly having a clip portion with a base and a molded housing having a keyhole and an opening. The keyhole in the doghouse is smooth for improved molding and elimination of tuning since there are no detents in the bore to tune or maintain. The base is provided with a pair of arms that are flexible and each arm having a self detent feature that passes through the opening in the housing to provide clip retention and, at the same time, float for tolerance variations is provided. The pair of arms also include nominal centering detents. The keyhole bore, opening, and clip portion provides clip detent, consistent retention effort, float, centering and anti-rotation.

Abstract: A buckle for a connector having a small simple structure and a favorable productivity, and a method for assembling the same. A buckle for connector of the present invention for supporting a tongue engageably/disengageably includes a base member, a latch member, an unlocking member, a latch spring, an ejector, an ejector spring, and cover members housing these members. The base member includes first and second plates. The ejector includes: two arms; a body section between the arms that includes a pushing/moving surface for the tongue to be pushed/moved by the tongue, a support section to support the latch member, and a pushing surface to be pushed by the ejector spring; and claws formed at ends of the arms and locked with an aperture at a terminal end of the base member, the terminal end being opposite to a starting end from which the tongue is inserted.

Abstract: A rope clasp device for securing a rope eliminates the need for a knot in a rope by selectively clasping and encasing at least one portion of a rope in a toothed clamp. The rope clasp device comprises a base, at least one, but generally two swinging doors, and a lock. The swinging doors are pivotably coupled to the base in order to be moved between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, a pair of channels for passage of a rope is defined between the base and the doors. The channels are defined by a plurality of clasping teeth to retain the rope therein.

Abstract: To close and tension a hose clamp, the two end portions of a clamping band, which overlap one another, are provided on surfaces that face one another and have toothed areas which are held in reciprocal engagement by a holding device. The toothed area of one end portion is formed on the outer face of a tongue, the width of the tongue being less than the full width of the band. The holding device has a raised area that is formed in the other end portion and bears the other toothed area on the inner face thereof. The raised area begins spaced from the free end of the other end portion with an outwardly projecting step that has an opening for the tongue to pass through.

Abstract: A curtain holder or claw that gathers and securely holds a curtain or drapery in place. The holder comprises two sides biased to a closed or clamped position. The sides of the holder may comprise extensions to assist in gathering and holding fabric. The holder is independent and free-standing, and can be used at different heights and locations, with no connection or installation to walls or window frames and with no damage to the curtain or drapery fabric. One of more decorative elements may be permanently or removably attached to the holder. Decorative elements can be easily interchanged by a user to provide a plurality of decorative fixtures, elements, figures, logo, or indicia, or combinations thereof. These elements can match the room décor, or relate to a holiday, kid's themes, movies, animals, sports teams, or other topics or themes.

Abstract: A finding used with dangle jewelry with a decorative jewel element configured to attach to a flesh tunnel or an orifice formed in an earlobe. The finding includes a single, thin rigid wire with two longitudinally aligned posts formed on opposite ends configured for insertion into the opposite ends of the flesh tunnel or orifice. The sections of the wire adjacent to the posts form earlobe extending sections that extend downward over the opposite surfaces of the earlobe. Formed below the earlobe extending sections is a compression ring with two side elements on opposite sides of the finding's longitudinal axis. Each side element is integral with the earlobe extending section located on the opposite side of the earlobe. When the two side elements are forced inward the two posts located are forced apart allowing the finding to be easily attached or detached from the flesh tunnel or orifice.

Abstract: An elongated tie strap comprising a head having a plurality of similarly dimensioned through-holes, a body having a plurality of axially oriented ridges on opposite lateral surfaces, and a tail having a thickness less than that of the body. The cross-sectional dimensions of the body are substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of the through-holes, and the distance between adjacent ridges is substantially equal to the through-hole depth, such that the body may couple to the head when inserted through one or more through-holes.

Abstract: A unitary, plastic cable tie for use in securing an article to packaging includes an elongated, serrated strap and a support member that extend orthogonally out from opposing surfaces of an apertured head. The support member includes an enlarged, planar backing plate pivotally connected to the head through a flexible, tabular neck. In use, the cable tie is folded through the neck such that the backing plate overlies the rear wall of the head. The strap is then inserted through both a fitted slot in the backing plate and a first opening in the packaging, wrapped transversely across the article, disposed through both an enlarged opening in the backing plate and a second opening in the packaging, and into engagement with the head. In this manner, the retentive force applied by the cable tie onto the packaging is dispersed evenly across the relatively large surface area of the backing plate.

Abstract: An adjustable load restraint system includes a chain binder has handle, a first coupling and a second coupling. Each of the first coupling and the second coupling may be removably secured to an associated one of a pair of chains. The handle may be manipulated such that the first coupling is selectively moved toward and away from the second coupling. Thus, the chain binder selectively urges the pair of chains toward each other and away from each other. A grapple is movably coupled to the second coupling. The grapple may engage the associated chain at a selected one of a pair of locations on the associated chain. Thus, the chain binder may accommodate a variety of distances between the pair of chains.

Abstract: A bracelet or other type of body jewelry, such as a necklace, an anklet, a belly chain, or earrings, secures the canopy of the umbrella, parasol, or personal sunshade in place and closed when not in use. A method of closure eliminates the need for snaps, straps, Velcro, buttons, etc. on the umbrella's canopy. The user slides the bracelet, or other type of body jewelry, onto the canopy to keep the canopy closed, and slides the jewelry off of the canopy and puts it on their wrist, or other body part, when they want to open and use the umbrella, parasol, or personal sunshade.

Abstract: In a slide fastener, a fastener tape is woven with a single-woven structure, and in the fastener tape, a double-woven region woven with a double-woven structure is formed along a tape longitudinal direction. An inner single-woven region and an outer single-woven region of the single-woven structure are formed at a tape inner edge side and a tape outer edge side of the double-woven region. Thus, even if the fastener tape makes contact with ridge line portions on a lower blade side of the slider when the slider is slid, weft yarns arranged in the double-woven region are less likely to be cut.

Abstract: A belt buckle (1) with at least one belt-fastening element (2) for at least one belt (35) and with at least one fastening component (4, 5) which is prestressed by at least one elastic prestressing element (3), wherein the prestressing element (3) is integrally formed on the fastening component (4, 5).

Abstract: Hardened cobalt alloys for forming jewelry, including finger rings as well as methods and processes for producing such alloys. In one illustrative embodiment, such an alloy can contain cobalt in an amount of from about 35 wt % to about 65 wt %, in combination with chromium in an amount of from about 16 % wt to about 32 wt %, and molybdenum in an amount of from about 8 wt % to about 31 wt %. Aluminum, silicon, boron, titanium, and other hardness enhancing materials may also be present. Hot investment casting may be used to form items from the alloys, which may then be shaped or polished to a final form. Annular finger rings constructed from these materials may have a white appearance similar to white gold or platinum, may have increased resistance to scratching compared to traditional cobalt chromium rings, and may be easily be removed by cracking in an emergency situation.