Abstract: A prepackaged ball joint subassembly is adapted to be installed into a final housing that is then closed to retain the subassembly. The subassembly comprises a bearing and a stud with stud head and a shank which are received in an encasement. The encasement is then sealed. In one preferred embodiment, the encasement includes an upper hood with a lower hook and a lower bowl with an upper hook. One of the hooks extends radially outwardly and the other hook extends radially inwardly such that the upper hood and lower bowl may be snapped together without using special tools.

Abstract: There is provided a tensioning arrangement for an awning structure which includes a plurality of vertical support posts and at least one horizontal member extending between a pair of the posts and having an awning of a flexible sheet material secured at one end and having a free marginal edge at an opposed end thereof, the tensioning member being mounted in a moveable relationship to the horizontal member, the tensioning member having means for receiving the free marginal edge and means for removing the tensioning member with respect to the horizontal member to thereby apply tension to the flexible sheet material. Operation of the system permits one to quickly achieve a uniform tension and maintain the same.

Abstract: A gem setting includes a base and prongs. Each of the prongs has a notch shaped for holding a portion of a gem girdle, such that when a gem having a crown is set into the setting, the upper portion of the notch extends over the crown of the gem. Each prong also has an upper part above the notch, which may be permanently bent over the crown of the gem to secure the gem in the setting. A method of setting a gem in the setting includes stabilizing the gem at a fixed location, and then moving the gem and setting together, without permanently bending the prongs, until the gem positioned within the setting such that, if the gem and setting together are placed in an upside down position, the gem will not fall out of the setting. Next, the upper part of each prong is permanently bent over the crown of the gem, to thereby secure the gem in the setting.

Abstract: A bracket made from a metal sheet for connecting a strut of a suspension and a wheel carrier has at least two attaching portions attached to the wheel carrier. A holding portion holds the strut at a predetermined position, and at least one welding portion substantially exactly surrounds the predetermined position of the strut and is welded to the strut.

Abstract: A device for enhancing the appearance of jewelry stones mounted to one of more rollers rotatably mounted within a protective housing. A phosphorescent member is cooperatively mounted within the housing to provide of source of light when lighting conditions are poor or non-existent. The rollers are removably mounted to the housing so that a user can readily remove them and combine different rollers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shaft-hub joint between two equiaxial machine parts for transmission of high torques in a power train--a first machine part on the power input end and a second machine part of the power output end. The machine parts are joined to each other in a fashion movable relative to each other but rotationally fixed, and a positive-locking overload relief mechanism is provided between the machine parts, the individual locking elements of which are prestressed in the sense of locking. The overload relief mechanism locks the two machine parts against axial thrust up to a specific adjustable limit value whereby the positive locking will be eliminated when the limit value is exceeded. The interlocking elements comprise bolts with a head surface beveled in wedge fashion.

Abstract: A shaft-carried speed reducer is provided having an adaptable mounting arrangement. The hub of the speed reducer is configured having a substantially cylindrical axial bore. At least one annular groove may be defined in the axial bore to receive a snap ring when desired. A removable adapter having a tapered interior surface may then be situated in the hub bore to abut the snap ring. As an alternative to such a snap ring, an annular flange may be provided on the removable adapter to engage an end face of the hub. A tapered sleeve member engages the tapered interior surface defined on the removable adapter to effect securement of the hub to the shaft. If a single adapter is used, it may be inserted from either side of the hub in some configurations. Further, some configurations permit a pair of adapters and corresponding sleeve members to be used. The adapter and snap ring, if any, may be removed when the hub is to be secured to a screw conveyor drive shaft or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object collector for collecting objects in a plurality of containers, which comprises a tank body, an inlet device, a guiding device, a receiving device, and a collecting device. The tank body has a top inlet opening. The inlet device comprises a swinging plate which is pivotally and rotatably mounted, above the top inlet opening, to the upper portion of the tank body by means of a mounting device. The container and the objects thereon, which are placed on the swinging plate, may fall down from the swung down swinging plate due to the weight of the container and the objects. The guiding device comprises at least two guide rails which are mounted and extended from one side of the upper portion of the tank body toward the opposing side of the lower portion of the tank body for guiding the falling down container to slide down and toss over.

Abstract: A vertical installation structure includes a plurality of placing stages on each of which information processing apparatuses are to be installed, and supporting members for supporting the plurality of placing stages so that the plurality of placing stages are vertically arranged. A vertical installation system includes the above vertical installation structure, and moving structure capable of moving along the vertical installation structure, the moving structure having a plurality of stages on each of which at least one information processing apparatus is to be placed and supporting members for supporting the plurality of stages so that each of the plurality of stages is level with a corresponding one of the plurality of placing stages of the vertical installation structure. The information processing apparatus set on each of the stages is transferred to the corresponding one of the plurality of placing stages of the vertical installation structure.

Abstract: A window covering has a sheet of light admitting material which forms a back sheet and a series of spaced apart, generally parallel strips attached at one edge to the back sheet and attached at an opposite edge to an adjacent strip. Each strip contains a light impeding portion and a light admitting portion.

Abstract: An automatic signal attachment for a security mail box which indicates when the mail box door is opened by activating an alarm. A magnetic release on the door and a pivoting platform within the mailbox triggers the alarm. The mail box allows users access from within a secured location and indicates delivery of the mail at a remote location.

Abstract: An extendible rod comprises two rod-shaped elements slidable telescopically inside each other, and an expander device for locking the rod-shaped elements against sliding in an extended position of the rod, wherein the expander device comprises a linkage acting between first and second constraint members, being each associated with a respective one of the rod-shaped elements to drive them through a stroke of mutual separation, and wherein the length of that stroke may be adjusted.

Abstract: A venetian blind assembly has a tilt drum support with a base which has a three-segment zig-zag type slot through which two ladder legs extend and are offset sidewardly from one another, with the tilt drum interposed from front to back between the two legs. The slot holds the ladder legs apart to insure non-overlapping winding of the joined ladder legs on the tilt drum. The tilt drum is connected to a flexible cable that turns and extends vertically downwardly on the window stile. The flexible cable is positioned by a plastic guide which is fastened to the stile. The flexible cable has an extruded fitting crimped to it which has a D-shaped opening in it. The fitting receives a vertical control rod which has a D-shape. The fitting opening is substantially deeper than is required to insure a proper connection with the vertical control rod. Hence the same vertical control rod may be installed on windows that vary in height by several inches, with the excess length absorbed within the fitting opening.

Abstract: A connection for transmitting torque between an internally toothed hub and an externally toothed shaft insertable into the hub has internal hub teeth and shaft teeth which are provided with different tooth flank profiles. The tooth flanks of the shaft teeth rest against the tooth flanks of the internal teeth on the pitch circle diameter D.sub.T. Thus, off the pitch circle diameter a clearance exists between the tooth flanks and the circumferential direction. The shaft teeth at its end directed towards the shaft shank, include a run-out region with a tooth height h.sub.Z decreasing as a function of the axial direction. The run/out region of the shaft teeth is substantially positioned within the internal hub teeth with respect to both their axial extensions.

Abstract: An operating structure for a vertical blind, including an operative pulley seat, a guide cord, a shaft wheel, a pressing wheel, a hollow pull rod, a stepped fixing block, a stopper block, a rotary bar and a distance-adjusting strip. A pair of shaft wheel holes and a pair of pressing wheel holes are respectively disposed on two sides of the operative pulley seat. Two corner holes are formed on two corners contained by front side and bottom side of the operative pulley seat. The shaft wheel is formed with spaced axial frictional ribs on its surface and a central rotary bar hole. The rotary bar has a shape corresponding to that of the rotary shaft hole and is passed therethrough. The pressing wheel has a large diameter middle section and two small diameter end sections. The pull rod is a hollow cylindrical column with a certain length. The stepped fixing block has a small diameter upper section and a large diameter lower section.

Abstract: A curtain assembly includes an elongated horizontal holding frame, a pair of spaced-apart hanging units, a curtain sheet, and an elongated horizontal plastic strip. The holding frame has an upper portion with a dovetail groove formed along the entire length thereof, and a hollow lower portion which is integrally formed with the upper portion and which has a bottom wall unit through which a slit is formed along the entire length of the frame. The hanging units are sleeved respectively around the holding frame and are adapted to be mounted on a wall so as to suspend the holding frame above a window that is formed through the wall. Each of the hanging units has a dovetail tongue engaged slidably in the groove of the holding frame. The sheet extends through the slit of the frame and has a folded annular upper end portion accommodated in the lower portion of the holding frame.

Abstract: A window blind having a bottom rail that defines a channel for receiving and storing unnecessary or unused slats of the blind to enable the ready customization of the blind to fit windows of different heights. End caps removably engageable with the ends of the storage rail are provided for maintaining the slats within the channel. U-shaped slots may be formed on each of the leading edges of the end caps, extending inwardly for receiving and retaining a cover slat to enclose the storage rail and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the storage rail. Means may also be provided for readily securing the storage rail to the cords of the blind. The securing means comprises a slot formed on the bottom of the storage rail that slidingly engages twist-and-lock eyelets joined to the ends of the cords.

Abstract: A tensioning assembly for use on a roller door, the roller door including a curtain windable on a roller for selectively blocking and unblocking a doorway above a floor surface, the tensioning assembly including: a drum attached to the roller for rotation therewith, a pulley disposed adjacent to the floor and also adjacent to a vertical edge of the curtain in the doorway blocking position; and a resilient member having a first end connected to the drum and a second end attached to a leading edge of the curtain, the resilient member passes around the pulley intermediate its first and second ends, and the resilient member is windable on the drum in an opposite sense to the winding of the curtain on the roller, the drum and resilient member are dimensioned relative to the roller and curtain to maintain a proportional stretch on the belt for all vertical positions of the curtain, thereby maintaining the curtain under tension at all times.

Abstract: An attachment arrangement for securing components or construction parts to an attachment rail (32) with a slot-like opening (34). The attachment arrangement includes a spring element (27) for improved handling which is deflectable both in the axial and radial directions. An axially elastic region (28) of the spring element (27) provides an axial prestress between a base member (21) and an intermediate member (29) whereby spontaneous detachment of the attachment arrangement by turning the base member (21) through 90 degrees relative to the attachment rail (32) is prevented.

Abstract: A retainer for seat which can be molded by a pair of metal molds and which prevents water from entering into a portion which locks a hook member. The retainer for seat comprises: a box-shaped leg body with an opening being inserted through a mounting hole; a flange extending outwardly from a vicinity of the opening; pawl portions protruding from outer surfaces of the leg body, and the peripheral edge of the mounting hole is held between the pawl portions and the flange; and retaining bodies protruding from the inner surfaces of the leg body in the direction of approaching each other, and resiliently retaining a hook member which is inserted through the opening.