Abstract: A hand tool is usable as a wrench and a hook. One end of the tool has a hand grip and the other end a hook. The hook has a pry tip usable to pry open service vault lids. A wrench socket is disposed on the hand grip. The hook is usable as a handle to rotate the wrench socket on the opposite end of the tool. Maintenance crews can use the built-in wrench to remove bolts from vault lids without kneeling down. The tool can then be reversed and used as a hook to lift the vault lid without bending down to grasp the edge of the vault lid. This can reduce back injuries to maintenance crews. In addition, injuries from snake and spider bites are reduced because maintenance crews need not use their hands to pry open the vault lids.

Abstract: A joint apparatus is provided for firmly connecting a head of a wrench with a socket. The joint apparatus includes a joint and a retainer. The joint includes a first portion for releasable engagement with the head of the wrench and a second portion for releasable engagement with a socket. The retainer is attached to the first portion of the joint for abutting the head of the wrench, thus avoiding the joint escaping the head of the wrench.

Abstract: The wrench stop for preventing a gripping end of a wrench from sliding off the lands of a fastener, such as a nut or bolt head. The wrench stop includes a hole through its center so that the wrench stop slides over the shank of a stud or bolt when fastening a nut thereto. The wrench stop may be magnetized to provide positive attachment to the fastener. The wrench stop may be attached to an open-end wrench, a box-end wrench, a combination wrench, a ratcheting box-end wrench, etc.

Abstract: A device for loosening threaded lids from correspondingly threaded containers, comprising a body carrying first and second flexible belts (20, 26) forming first and second loops which engage around the lid and the container respectively, the belts (20, 26) being arranged to be relatively displaceable such that the first and second loops grip the lid and the container respectively, the belts further being arranged to be displaceable by an actuating means such that the first and second loops apply oppositely directed torques to the lid and container respectively whereby the lid is rotated on the container in a loosening direction. Both the lid and the container are thus gripped by the device rather than by hand. The loosening of the lid may be achieved by the rotation of only one of the loops relative to the body, the other loop serving to prevent rotation of the lid or the container relative to the body. Alternatively, both of the loops may rotate relative to the body in opposite directions.

Abstract: A pair of locking pliers includes a first jaw, a first handle, a second jaw, a second handle, a toggle, an adjusting screw, a release lever, a spring, and a soft jacket. The first handle extends from the first jaw and includes a space defined therein. The second jaw is pivotally connected with the first jaw. The second handle is pivotally connected with the second jaw. The toggle includes a first end pivotally connected with the second handle and a second end inserted into the space of the first handle. The adjusting screw includes an end driven into the space of the first handle for abutment against the second end of the toggle. The release lever is pivotally connected with the second handle. The release lever includes a first end for abutment against the toggle and a second end to be pressed by a user. The spring includes an end secured to the first handle and an opposite end secured to the second jaw. The soft jacket wraps up the second handle and the release lever.

Abstract: An article of manufacture, a method, and an apparatus for use in a chemical mechanical polishing system is provided. In one aspect, an article of manufacture is provided for polishing a substrate including a polishing article having a polishing surface, the polishing surface including a first polishing portion having a first polishing material of a first hardness for polishing a first portion of the substrate, and a second polishing portion having a second polishing material of a second hardness for polishing a second portion of the substrate. The article of manufacture may be disposed on a rotatable, stationary, or linear platen for processing a substrate. In another aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate, including providing a platen containing the polishing article disposed on the rotatable platen, delivering a polishing composition to the polishing article, and contacting a substrate on the polishing article.

Abstract: A Jar Opener includes a beam, a handle, a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw. The Jar Opener is able to securely clamp a jar lid between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw, and the beam and handle are then turned to open the jar. The Jar Opener functions as a lever arm to enable any user to easily open virtually any twist top jar.

Abstract: A gas turbine component blank is shaped by clamping the gas turbine component blank into a fixture that accurately positions the gas turbine component blank in three dimensions. The positioning is accomplished against stops accurately machined into a base of the fixture, by first supporting the gas turbine component blank on one set of stops that prevents movement in the direction perpendicular to a plane of the base, and then operating a movable clamp to force the gas turbine component blank against other sets of stops that limit the movement of the gas turbine component blank in directions lying in the base plane. The clamp has a compound movement that simultaneously forces the gas turbine component blank against stops that prevent movement in orthogonal directions lying in the base plane. The gas turbine component blank is thereafter shaped, preferably by grinding the sides of the root precursor of the gas turbine component blank.

Abstract: A manual tong is disclosed which includes a composite belt, a handle assembly, and a jaw assembly, where the composite belt is designed to take the place of the conventional linked chains used currently in manual tongs. The composite belt is held in place by a set of pins associated with the handle and jaw assemblies. Replacement of the linked chains with the composite belts improve tong safety, improve ease of use, lower cost, make adjustment easier and make belt replacement easier reducing down time and increasing tong utility so that one tong can be used for different pipe diameters by simply adjusting a length of the belt or a simple replacement of the belt with a different size belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a membrane formed from a compressible, flexible material, such as neoprene or silicone, and having a first portion with a thickness greater than that of a second portion. The membrane can be aligned with the microelectronic substrate to bias the microelectronic substrate against a planarizing medium such that the first portion of the membrane biases the microelectronic substrate with a greater downward force than does the second portion of the membrane. Accordingly, the membrane can compensate for effects, such as varying linear velocities across the face of the substrate that would otherwise cause the substrate to planarize in a non-uniform fashion or, alternatively, the membrane can be used to selectively planarize portions of the microelectronic substrate at varying rates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coupler that grips the internal surface of a torque receptor such as a pipe or driveshaft to be turned. When torque is applied to the coupler, one or more gripping surfaces are forced apart by a cam mechanism. The gripping surfaces tightly engage the internal surface of the pipe in response to movement of an internal cam. Torque applied to the wrench causes the pipe to turn. Because the wrench grips the internal diameter of a torque receptor, it can be used without damaging the external surface of the torque receptor, and used in very confined spaces. The gripping surfaces distribute the gripping load evenly across the pipe, which minimizes any deformation of the pipe. The pipe is engaged by the gripping surfaces beyond the threaded portion of the pipe, where the pipe has more structure, to prevent ovaling.

Abstract: A wrench includes a handle, a head having a pivotal portion, and a retaining mechanism for retaining the head in the desired angular position relative to the handle. The pivotal portion of the head includes a fore lug and a rear lug that are located with reference to a ratcheting direction of the handle. The handle has an engaging portion pivotally received in an opening between the lugs. Teeth are defined in an arcuate outer surface section of the fore lug. The thickness of the rear lug is not reduced, avoiding damage to the torque-bearing section in the pin hole of the rear lug.

Abstract: A structure for a polishing machine of an optical disk, which comprises a motor, a turntable unit integrated with a housing, at least two polishing wheel positioned on a cover which can cover up the housing, and a timer. When the cover is closed, the polishing wheel can polish the optical disk. The primary objective of this invention is to provide a structure for a polishing machine with a precise polishing effect and higher automation to increase the quality of polishing. The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a structure for a polishing machine which is simplified in structure, miniaturize in volume and is easily stored and used.

Abstract: An improved tool for use in association with a deformable nut of a fastener includes a socket having inner surface that forms a cavity on the socket. The inner surface includes one or more engagement surfaces that are tapered inwardly at an angle that approaches a taper of a deformable wall of the deformable nut. In one embodiment the tapering of the engagement surfaces is provided by configuring the engagement surfaces to extend in a tapered fashion generally toward a central axis of the socket. In another embodiment, the tapering is provided by configuring the engagement surfaces to each extend in a spiral fashion about a spiral axis that may, for example, be parallel and spaced-apart from the central axis of the socket.

Abstract: Polishing pads with a window, systems containing such polishing pads, and processes that use such polishing pads are disclosed. In embodiments, a polishing pad includes a backing layer having an opening, a polishing layer having an opening aligned with the opening in the backing layer, a solid window of a first material in the opening of the polishing layer, a layer of a first adhesive material between the backing layer and the solid window, and a layer of a second adhesive material between the layer of the first adhesive material and the window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of planarizing substrates is disclosed. A planarizing web medium is prepared for planarizing substrates to reduce defect generation. The planarizing web has a planarizing region and preparing region defined thereon, wherein at least one portion of the preparing region is outside the planarizing region. The web medium is advanced to move one portion of the web out of the planarizing region and another portion into the planarizing region.

Abstract: A grinding wheel including (a) a cylindrical main body having a grinding surface on its outer circumferential surface, and (b) a pair of synthetic resin layers disposed on respective axially opposite end faces of the cylindrical main body. Each of the synthetic resin layers covers at least a radially outer end portion of a corresponding one of the axially opposite end faces. The cylindrical main body has an abrasive layer which constitutes a radially outermost layer thereof so that the abrasive layer provides the grinding surface.

Abstract: In polishing particles each having a core-shell structure, a polishing rate can be controlled by adjusting a thickness and/or density of a shell portion. The polishing particles have the core-shell structure with an average diameter in the range from 5 to 300 nm, and the shell portion of the polishing particles includes silica with a thickness in the range from 1 to 50 nm. A density of the shell portion is in the from 1.6 to 2.2 g/cc, while the Na content of the shell portion is less than 10 ppm.

Abstract: An angle-measurement assist device suitable for a visual inspection to determine a blade angle of a dental scaler is provided with a holder having a flat face thereof adapted to be in contact with a bladed portion of the scaler, a permanent magnet mounted to the holder, and first, second and third pins projecting from the holder in the directions which are perpendicular to one another, whereby an operator is permitted to make a visual inspection to determine whether the scaler is sharpened to have a target blade angle on the basis of an extending direction of the first pin, with the assist device magnetically retained on the scaler.

Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily suspending or supporting a fascia board during the installation thereof, along the eaves or the end of a rafter tail of a frame of a roof structure is described, wherein the device includes a U-shaped bucket (16) for supporting or suspending the fascia board. The U-shaped bucket is engaged in cooperating with a swivel bracket (10) and a rafter tail clamp saddle (4) for attachment to the end of the rafter tail, respectively, to the frame of the roof structure. The apparatus provides an improved method of installing a fascia board, wherein, one person can install the fascia board for the completion of the roof structure thereof. The apparatus can be easily removed and applied to another section of the roof.