Abstract: The invention relates to a pair of chopsticks, comprising: an upper chopstick, and a lower chopstick with a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein both of the first and second protrusions protrude from the back surface of the lower chopstick, so that at the holding status of the chopsticks, the first protrusion can touch the vicinity of the first joint of the ring finger of user and the second protrusion can touch the finger pad of the third section of the index finger of user. With the two protrusions coexisting in the lower chopstick, the chopsticks can be firmly held by hand of users.

Abstract: A belt-attachable caddy for carrying a retractable and fast-deploying grappling hook houses a slotted receptacle for a removable plate mounting a take-up reel around which a cable secured to an eyelet on the hook is wound. The hook has a plurality of tines foldable around a central shaft that can quickly be individually set into a deployed position or a retracted position with no more than two turns of a capping head. The speed and ease of operation of the deploying and locking mechanism are due in part to the concavely machined undersurface of the head which mirrors the path end of the tines hinged to the side of the shaft. The same locking maneuver and adjustment of the head apply coincidently to the deployed and retracted tines.

Abstract: A system for applying a tensile load, the system having: a length of continuous synthetic rope having first and second bitter ends; the continuous synthetic rope being woven with itself to create a sling; the first and second bitter ends of the rope being capable of moving relative to each other and the sling. The system may be configured such that movement of the bitter ends relative to the sling or each other is observable or measurable. Systems may be slings that provide a plurality of wraps of a continuous synthetic rope having loops at opposing ends; the plurality of wraps of continuous synthetic rope having at least three parts and being woven such that the resulting woven sling has at least three picks.

Abstract: The device comprises two gripping arms movable to and from a resting position and a gripping position in which they are spread apart from one another and in contact with an inside face of the side wall of the cooking vessel; a fix-mounted gripping member designed for being in contact with an outside face of the side wall of the cooking vessel; and displacement means designed for being manually guided to and from an open position and a closed position and for effecting a spreading of the movable arms while switching from the open position to the closed position. Said device further comprises anti-return means separate from the displacement means and designed for being moved from a resting position to a clamping position in which they are inserted between the two arms and prevent the two arms from coming together.

Abstract: A device and a lifting system for manually lifting and transporting an object are described. The device includes a handle member including a linking member connector disposed at about a center point of a length of the handle member. A first end of a linking member is securely connected to the handle member by the linking member connector. The linking member has a length suitable for a person to raise the object to be lifted and transported between his knees and his waist. A lifting member has at least a portion insertable into a hollow core of the object to be lifted and transported, a first end of the lifting member connected to a second end of the linking member and a second end of the lifting member including a contact member providing a lifting surface for contacting the object to be lifted and transported.

Abstract: A mechanical finger comprises at least three phalanges, with a base phalanx pivotally connected at a proximal end to a base. At least one intermediate phalanx is pivotally connected at a proximal end to a distal end of the base phalanx. An end phalanx is pivotally connected at a proximal end to a distal end of a distal-most one of the at least one intermediate phalanx. The phalanges pivot about parallel pivot axes. A transmission linkage is between the base and the end phalanx. The transmission linkage has links and joints unconnected to any of the phalanges other than the end phalanx, the transmission linkage being configured so as not to constrain the degrees of freedom of the mechanical finger.

Abstract: A system for mounting a head frame to a spreader includes a sheave assembly connecting the head frame to a crane so as to permit the lowering of the head frame, mutually cooperating engagement devices for coupling the head frame and the spreader, an actuator arranged to connect mutually engageable transmission connectors on the head frame and spreader, and a registration device for registering the coupling of the head frame and the spreader. The registration device is arranged to prevent engagement of the transmission connector until the head frame and spreader are coupled.

Abstract: Tools for inserting containers into ice are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a tool includes a first end and a second end. A ring is located proximate the first end. The ring has a hole, wherein a container is receivable in the hole. The tool has a first state when no container is received in the hole and a second state when a container is received in the hole. At least one sheet extends between the ring and the second end, the sheet forms a substantially conical shape when the tool is in the first state and a less conical shape when the tool is in the second state. An opening is located proximate the second end, wherein the container exits the tool via the opening.

Abstract: A grasper includes a base, a finger, a tendon cable and a magnetic breakaway mechanism. The finger has a proximal end connected to the base by a proximal joint. The tendon cable is configured to move the finger relative to the base. The magnetic breakaway mechanism releasably couples the finger to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a robot arm, and a plurality of guide pins mounted on the robot arm. Each of the plurality of guide pins includes a plurality of wafer supports at different levels, with each of the plurality of wafer supports configured to support and center a wafer having a size different from wafers configured to be supported and centered by remaining ones of the plurality of wafer supports.

Abstract: A toilet removal and disposal tray (1) for removing and transporting an old toilet (2) from a bathroom. The toilet removal and disposal tray has a planar base panel (3) having a perimeter edge (6) and a perimeter wall (7) extending upward a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge. The perimeter wall contains any liquids that leak from the toilet after the toilet has been uninstalled and placed on the toilet removal and disposal tray. A drain line connector (12) and/or one or more bolt hole connectors (13) attach the toilet to the toilet removal and disposal tray.

Abstract: A grasper includes a base, a finger, a tendon cable and a magnetic breakaway mechanism. The finger has a proximal end connected to the base by a proximal joint. The tendon cable is configured to move the finger relative to the base. The magnetic breakaway mechanism releasably couples the finger to the base.

Abstract: An improvement for a bowling pinsetting machine. The bowling pinsetting machine of the present invention includes a tong operating device with an upper tong and a lower tong. The upper tong and the lower tong may be connected to an actuation gear which may drive the tongs together and apart. The tong operating device may be substantially made of plastic. At least one of the upper tong, the lower tong, and the actuation gear may include metal oil-filled bearings. At least one metal pin may run through the metal oil-filled bearing and thereby connect the upper tong, the lower tong and the actuation gear.

Abstract: A hoisting device and, more particularly, an intelligent hoist ring that is capable of monitoring, recording and/or communicating the use of the hoist ring including monitoring, recording and/or communicating the loads on the hoist ring that can be used, inter alia, to determine condition of the hoist ring and whether it can remain in active service and monitoring tightening loads independently of applied loads.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a string of decorative lighting, such as Christmas or party lights, in an elevated location without requiring the use of a ladder. The apparatus allows the string of lights to be hung simultaneously with a hanging bracket or clip suitable for hanging the lights from a gutter or shingles. A clamp, actuated between an open and closed position, securely holds the light string by a socket rather than the wire string, while the light string is being hung. The clamp preferably includes prongs oriented in different directions, one direction adapted for hanging a string of lights with a hook-type hanging bracket and the other direction adapted for use with a clip-type hanger. A protective body covers the bulb while the light string is being hung.

Abstract: For holding a pipe, rod or the like, such as a section of a pipe string of an offshore oil drilling rig, an apparatus includes a clamping device insertable into a support body. The clamping device includes a device body with a central opening bounded by an inner circumferential surface that conically tapers at a cone angle. The device further includes clamp elements that are received in the central opening of the device body and that each have a radially outer surface sloping along the cone angle to slide along the inner circumferential surface of the device body, and a radially inner clamping surface to clamp against the coaxially arranged pipe. A holding element respectively connects each clamp element to a linear actuator stroke element that is similarly tilted at the cone angle. The linear actuator may be received in a receiver shaft of the device body.

Abstract: A working machine (10) includes a body (11) having a front end (12) and a rear end (13), and a ground engaging propulsion structure (15) whereby the machine (10) may be driven over the ground, a loading arm assembly (25) which includes a loading arm (26) which is mounted at one end (26a) relative to the body (11) and which extends forwardly at or towards one side of the body (11), beyond the front end (12) of the body (11), to a second end (26b) where there is amounting for a working implement (35), the loading arm assembly (25) including a first link (28) which is pivotally connected at or adjacent the one end (26a) of the loading arm (26) and also to the body (11) at a first mounting position (27), and a second link (32) which is pivotally connected to the arm (26) between the first and second ends (26a, 26b) of the arm (26), and to the body at a second mounting position (36) which is forwards of the first mounting position (27), and the machine (10) including an actuator (40) which acts between the loading

Abstract: A bellows insert (25) is shown, mountable inside a bellows for a vacuum powered tool and, in the mounted position, effective to locally limit the capacity of the bellows of compression in its longitudinal direction caused by a negative pressure introduced into the bellows. The bellows insert includes an engagement part (26) that has a shape complementary to the inside of the bellows and that, in the mounted position of the bellows insert, fills up some or all of the pleats of the bellows, within a limited area of the circumference of the bellows.

Abstract: A jointed mechanism including a segment coupled to a joint; and an elongated component coupled to the segment, where applying a pulling force to the elongated component rotates the segment around the joint, elastically deforming the elongated component; wherein the elastic deformation generates an elongated component elastic force sufficient to rotate the segment, in an opposite direction, in absence of the pulling force.

Abstract: A securement device to make it much easier for a user to securely hold onto a personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device such as an electronic reader, a tablet computing device, a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, and a common clipboard, including any of these items that are at least partially contained in protective housings—while minimizing the fatigue and discomfort on the user's hands: A typical device solves this problem by providing a system of one or more finger holds formed with a fabric or pliable material that are disposed on the back side of the personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device. In many devices, the position and fit of the finger holds are easily adjustable by a user via hook-and-loop schemes.