Abstract: A process for preventing vibrations of a shaft (1) driven into rotation around its axis and having a length greater than its diameter. The shaft is maintained at both ends by fixed centering devices (2a, 2b) and at its center by at least one intermediate support (12). The support is located on one side of the shaft, and its position with respect to the end centering devices (2a, 2b) is adjusted so that, in its central part, the center (0) of the shaft is away from the line running through the centers of the end centering devices (2a, 2b) on the side opposite the intermediate support (12). The shaft is thus subjected to permanent deformation and maintained applied onto rolling bearing devices (7a, 7b) by an elastic recall force.

Abstract: A device enables ready, accurate and positive preliminary mounting of an electric line part in completely one operation without the need for any screwing operation, regardless of a change in the width and height of the channel flanges of a channel rail and also, enables ready and positive permanent securement of the electric line part, and which allows an operator to extremely easily, positively and efficiently carry out this type of operation without the need for any skill. The device includes a fixture body having a part attached to a channel rail, a bolt, and a clamp threadedly engaged with the bolt. The clamp includes a central nut, pivot pins mounted to the nut, a pair of right and left clamping elements pivotable about the horizontal pivot pins and a protrusion extending outwardly from one side of the nut. The fixture body has a guide plate at a location where the fixture body is attached to the channel rail. The protrusion is guidably received in a guide slot of the guide plate.

Abstract: A power seat adjuster includes a drive shaft rotatably driven by a motor mounted centrally on a bracket fixedly connected at opposite ends to the moveable track of a pair of vehicle seat track assemblies. The drive shaft threadingly engages a drive nut mounted in a resilient holder carried on a bracket fixedly connected to the stationary tracks of the track assemblies. The resilient holder for the drive nut provides self-alignment of the drive nut in at least one and preferably two or more mutually exclusive axes or planes relative to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A semi-flexible clip type fastener for gripping and retaining an item having a circular cross-section is disclosed. Protrusions facilitate insertion of the item to be gripped. Upon insertion of the clip into an aperture, deflectable lever arms move the protrusions towards the inserted item, to facilitate retainment of the item in the clip.

Abstract: A cupholder assembly for mounting within a recess of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle and being moveable between a stored position within the recess and a use position outside of the recess. The cupholder assembly includes a housing which supports a pair of arms that at least partially defining an aperture for receiving a container. A pivot mounting movably mounts the arms to the housing so that the arms are moveable between laterally outward positions defining a first width and length and laterally inward positions defining a second width and length. The pivot mounting a common pivot axis, about which both arms pivot, as well as second and third pivot axes. The common pivot axis and the second and third pivot axes are all moveable relative to said support housing thereby providing for the reduced length and width of the assembly in the laterally inward position.

Abstract: An upper MacPherson strut step bearing for wheel suspensions in a motor vehicle, including a metallic support body which can be connected to a shock absorber, a metallic support flange which can be fastened to the vehicle body, both of which are connected to one another by a vulcanized elastomeric material. The vulcanized elastomeric material includes a rubber buffer with a lower stop face for a support disk, against the underside of which a coil spring is supported by means of a buffer ring, and an upper stop face for a flange disk which is rigidly connected to the support piece. To optimize the transmission of force through the elastomeric material, the support flange has, in the vertical section of an axial plane, an annular U-shaped section with a bottom which is parallel to the lower stop face, which U-shaped section encloses an essential amount of the material of the rubber buffer on three sides in the manner of a chamber with one side open in the direction of action of the load occurring.

Abstract: A stake assembly for the support of soccer poles and other tubular structures includes a pair of generally parallel vertical members affixed together and spaced a desired distance apart by an upper lateral member interposed between the vertical members proximate their upper portion, and a lower lateral member interposed between the vertical members proximate their medial portion, such that the distance between the outside surfaces of the vertical members is generally equal to, and preferably slightly greater than, the inside diameter of the pole to be supported. Furthermore, the upper lateral member has a lateral extent generally equal to the inside diameter of the pole to be supported, while the lower lateral member has a lateral extent generally equal to the outside diameter of the pole to be supported. The vertical members terminate in a basal portion each preferably bearing an angled tip.

Abstract: A pedestal for receiving and fixing a shaft having a main body that has an upper reception portion and a lower base portion. The upper reception portion includes at least one side wall which defines a reception cavity for receiving the shaft. The side wall of the upper reception portion includes a gap which extends axially and a first and a second web positioned to opposite sides of the gap and on an interior surface of the side wall. The side wall includes a through-hole extending from the interior surface of the side wall and opening out an exterior surface of the side wall. The pedestal further includes a gap closing member which is supported by at least one of the webs and extends across the gap and is accessible by way of the through-hole such as via one end of the closing member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pedestal base for a chair that is capable of supporting safely up to a 500 pound person in normal, continuous commercial or industrial use. The present pedestal base has six legs, a substantially cylindrical hub, and six caster attachment means with a caster or glide in each caster attachment means. Each leg is separated from its neighboring legs by about 60 degrees. The base elements are selected within particular dimensions and are made from materials having minimum selected yield strengths. In particular, the pedestal chair base as a whole can pass BIFMA test No. 8 with a 5000 lb load being applied, instead of a 2500 lb load, and can pass BIFMA tests No. 9 and No. 18, each with a 500 lb load being used instead of a 300 lb load.

Abstract: A cable bundling strap anchor made by forming a number of tongues along an elongate band or bracket of flat, resilient metal or plastic by removing material in a form of a cutout such that the sides and one end of the cutout form a tongue attaching member. An open bundling strap is placed around the tongue from the tongue free end. Thereafter, a cable bundle is placed over the anchor and the strap is closed about the bundle. The stiffness of the cable bundle and the inability to move the bundle away from the plane of the band prevents removal of the strap from the anchor.

Abstract: A rotating apparatus for rotating an object utilizes a worm gear in which worm wheel torque supplied from a rotation table can be transferred to a worm gear. In this way the invention avoids a conventional disengaging mechanism that disengages the rotating apparatus when torque is supplied from the rotation table. Further, spring members and stoppers physically define a first and second rotation ranges and a split cam shuts off a drive motor within the first rotation range. Still further, an anti-backlash member is provided on the worm gearing. To prevent pinched fingers and dust accumulation, a skirt is preferably provided on the bottom, front edge of the object being rotated which closes a gap between the object and a support surface when the object is placed on the rotating apparatus.

Abstract: A wall stud mountable baseplate has a wall stud mounted to a front surface of the baseplate and extending perpendicular thereto. A nut is threadably mounted to the bolt and an elongated picture hanging rod has a hanging lug at an outboard end thereof and is rotatably and longitudinally adjustably mounted on said threaded bolt with a threaded nut locking the picture hanging rod at an angularly adjustable position and the hanging lug at a radially adjusted position relative to the bolt. Alternatively, the bolt may be rotatably mounted to the hanger baseplate and may carry a slot slidably receiving the picture hanging rod with a threaded nut frictionally locking the picture hanging rod to the baseplate at a selected longitudinal and rotatable position relative to the hanger baseplate.

Abstract: A base extension assembly (20) for a Christmas tree stand (10) includes a platform (22) upon which the tree stand (10) is anchored by way of cantilever fingers (42). The cantilever fingers (42) are secured to the platform (22) by a screw (52), and prevented from rotating by a locking nub (46) which is seated in a depression (50) in the platform (22). The platform (22) can be broken down into two segments (56) for compact storage and shipment of the assembly (20). The segments (56) are joined together in an operational condition by a series of connector plates (60) with accompanying screws (62) beneath the platform (22). Additionally, an array of nut and bolt combinations (60) secure opposing end flanges (64) to help hold the segments (56) together. A bridge bar (70) spans the interior of each segment (56) to maintain structural integrity. An array of support ribs further enhance structural rigidity.

Abstract: A wire installation strip for installing electrical wire which may be mounted to a supporting structural element to speed the installation of the electrical wire. The wire installation strip includes a base and a plurality of retention hooks to retain the electrical wire. Each retention hook includes a first leg extending upwardly from the base, a second leg extending over from the first leg, and a detent angled downwardly from the second leg to capture and retain the electrical wire. The second leg is spaced from the base a selected distance to define an opening having a central axis and provide a gap corresponding to approximately the thickness of the electrical wire. The central axes of the opening of each retention hook are positioned generally parallel to one another.

Abstract: A pneumatic height adjustment column is provided for a chair. The column includes a support tube, a carrier tube, a pneumatic cartridge, a hub fastener, and a shaft fastener. The support tube has a top end which is generally open, and a bottom portion which is adapted to be mounted to a chair base. The bottom portion has an opening with a smaller diameter than that of the support tube. The carrier tube has a top portion adapted to be mounted to a support housing for a chair seat. The top portion has an opening with a smaller diameter than that of the carrier tube. The carrier tube also has a generally open bottom end which telescopically engages the top end of the support tube. The pneumatic cartridge has a cylinder positioned within the carrier tube, a shaft, and a hub. The cylinder has a diameter greater than that of the opening in the carrier tube. The shaft extends downwardly from the cylinder and has a bottom end which passes through the opening in the bottom of the support tube.

Abstract: A device for supporting objects, especially objects such as utilized in vehicles, boats and the like, comprising a base adapted to be mounted on a substrate, for example, a dashboard or console, and a carrier member for supporting said objects and which includes means for retaining an object supported thereon securely in place. The carrier member and the base have formed thereon interlocking elements for interlocking the carrier member with the base, said interlocking elements being disengageable to permit removal of the carrier member from the base. The inter-locking elements are arrayed such to allow the carrier member to be mounted on and interlocked with the base in different posi-tions angularly displaced from one another.

Abstract: A device for mounting plate-like construction components, in particular solar modules and solar energy collectors on inclined surfaces. The plate-like construction components are arranged in the longitudinal direction on such surfaces, and disposed one on top of the other in the form of scales. The plate-like construction components are mounted on profiles which extend in the longitudinal direction on a substantially horizontally disposed mounting support framework such as roof battens. Each profile has at its top side two lateral support surfaces extending in its longitudinal direction, and a groove disposed between said support surfaces. The construction components rest with each of their lateral edges on one of the support surfaces of the profile, with a gap between the two lateral edges and above the groove. The profile is an inverted U-shape with each leg of the profile consisting of an inner and an outer vertical leg. The outer vertical leg limits the profile laterally.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for facilitating operation of a computer input device which includes a tracking member. The apparatus includes a sheet having a top surface configured to engage the tracking member and a bottom surface, and a double sided tape having a permanent adhesive on a first side surface and a removable adhesive on a second side surface. The first side surface of the barrier is affixed to the bottom surface of the sheet by the permanent adhesive, and the removable adhesive is exposed to secure the sheet to a support surface. A cover is located over the removable adhesive on the second surface of the double sided tape to protect the removable adhesive.

Abstract: A stack is formed by a rack having a plurality of holders. A first flexible holder is provided between two adjacent rigid holders. First and second articles are placed on a support and are spaced a pre-determined distance. The rigid second and third holders are placed on top of the first and second articles. A third article is then placed in the first flexible holder between the rigid second and third holders. The weight of the third article on the first flexible holder will cause the second and third rigid holders to move into clamping engagement with sides of the third article. Additional articles can then be placed on the stack. This arrangement provides for a self-gripping rack and article combination.

Abstract: A mounting device (2) for securing a sign to a post (46) is disclosed comprising: (a) a saddle portion having a pair of opposite side members (4) of similar form and spaced apart, the side members being adapted to seat against a post (46); (b) a base element (6) joining and spacing apart the side members (4), the base element (6) having a narrower neck portion (7) extending away from the post and connected to an enlarged abutment portion (3), the neck portion (7) being adapted to allow the abutment portion (3) to pass slideably into a channel (32) attached to the sign, the channel having a mouth with inturned lips to retain the abutment portion (3) in the channel; and (c) a pair of attachment members (8) held at opposite ends of the saddle portion and connectable to the post by strapping passed around the post, wherein the attachment members (8) have stem portions (25) connected to the abutment portion. Preferably, the mounting device (2) is made from a single component, e.g. folded from a sheet metal blank.