Abstract: A sealed micro-actuator device for positioning a slider in a disc drive comprises a micro-actuator body, which includes a stator, a rotor, and a motor for moving the rotor with respect to the stator. The micro-actuator device includes means for sealing the micro-actuator body to prevent debris from reaching the motor. In a preferred embodiment, the means for sealing comprises a plurality of cavities formed in the micro-actuator body and an injection molded polymer seal with a plurality of protrusions that extend into the plurality of cavities. A first subset of the plurality of protrusions make contact with the stator, thereby holding the means for sealing in place. A second subset of the plurality of protrusions extend into cavities formed in the rotor. The second subset of protrusions does not contact the rotor.

Abstract: A biodegradable product for use as a ground cover or in the formation of a berm and comprising a major component of organic particulate as compost or a mulch containing compost. Additional components include granular molasses, granular guar, cotton seed meal and soy bean meal. A blower system for delivery of the product is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,406 incorporated herein by reference, and which discloses a vehicle supported system for mixing and discharging the product. The present product applied as a blanket serves to inhibit erosion and promote plant growth. When used in berm construction, the product constitutes a barrier aiding in the confinement of hazardous matter.

Abstract: A secure display setting and a method of doing business using the secure display setting are provided. A display setting including a base portion with a lower barrel may be lockingly secured to an upper portion including an upper barrel and prongs with a gemstone located therebetween. A spring is used to bias the gemstone against the prongs. In certain forms of the invention, the gemstone can not be removed from the display setting without causing obvious damage to the display setting. The value of the gemstone is maintained or secured by the seller if the potential customer returns the display setting with obvious damage.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism having a first attachment member supported by a first body. The first attachment member includes an engaging portion. A plurality of second attachment members is also provided and is supported by a second body. Each of the plurality of second attachment members includes an engaging portion selectively engageable with the engaging portion of the first attachment member. An actuating device is further provided and coupled with the plurality of second attachment members. The actuation device is operable to selectively actuate the plurality of second attachment members relative to the first attachment member to positionally manipulate the first body relative to the second body while the plurality of second attachment members is engaged with the first attachment member.

Abstract: A door locking mechanism for deadlocking a door. The door locking mechanism includes a lockhead member which includes a door stopping portion. The lockhead member is moveable from a locked position, wherein the door is double deadlocked, and an unlocked position. A vertical locking mechanism is coupled to the lockhead member, and the vertical locking mechanism deadlocks the door when the lockhead member is in the locked position. The door stopping portion of the lockhead member also deadlocks door when the lockhead member is in the locked position. A carriage assembly is engaged with the door, and the carriage assembly is engageable with the door stopping portion and moves the lockhead member from the locked position to the unlocked position. The vertical locking mechanism disengages the door when the lockhead member is in the unlocked position and the door stopping portion of the lockhead member also disengages the door.

Abstract: A pipe joint with a sleeve element, which has an internal thread, and with a spigot element, which has an external thread which can be screwed to said internal thread. One element has a constant pitch throughout and the other element, with two sections extending in each case from the ends of the threaded length is likewise provided with a constant pitch. The other element has more than two sections with a pitch which is constant within the section but is different from the first-mentioned element, it being the case that the pitch difference at least of one section is in the opposite direction, in terms of sign, to the rest of the sections. The pitch difference of one section is at least double that of the adjacent sections and in the screwed-together position, in the section with the large pitch difference, the thread play and the thread tolerances are compensated and the load flank of one corner tooth of this section, with the guide flank of the other corner tooth, produces the basic bracing.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a mechanism for securing a container. The container includes at least one wall, which is comprised of at least a first door. The mechanism includes a first rod, which is attached with the outer surface of the first door. The first rod is capable of being rotated from an openable position, when the first door is capable of being opened, to a closed position, when the first door is engaged with the container to be closed. The mechanism further includes a channel member, which is attached with the inner surface of the first door, and a sliding member, which is slidably received within the channel member. The sliding member is engageable with the first rod. As the first rod is rotated from the openable position to the closed position, engagement of the first rod with the sliding member causes the sliding member to slide to secure the first door.

Abstract: A bayonet locking system for vending machines is provided to lock and unlock the machine preferably with a remotely controlled electronic operating unit. It includes at least one motor driven axially and rotationally movable bayonet with an enlarged shaped head being mounted preferably on a gasketed door and at least one receptacle receiving device disposed within the machine interior positioned for engagement by the bayonet when the door is moved to an intermediate position. The bayonet advances into the receptacle and rotates to capture it in the receptacle and then axially retracts to pull the door into the closed position wherein a gasket disposed between the door and the machine is substantially uniformly compressed and sealed around its periphery. An axially rotatable pin with fins may be used with a bracket on either the door or machine to prevent prying of the door at opposite corners.

Abstract: A system of interconnected ornamental rings which convey a definite and clear message regarding the existence of an interpersonal relationship which, when worn by an individual, cannot be mistaken in the culture. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive system of interconnected ornamental rings comprises a pair of separate finger rings, each having a connection point at which there is attached a decorative chain interconnecting the separate rings. The system of interconnected rings can be worn on two fingers of the hand, with a finger in-between them, so that the decorative chain is prominently displayed. The message conveyed by such a pair of interconnected ornamental rings is very clear, indicating an interpersonal relationship with another, with the decorative chain which enhances the message with its particular type of decorative style.

Abstract: A plastic grille is attached to vehicle fenders by fasteners having a first connector section particularly shaped to snappingly engage a hole in the grille, and having an oppositely-facing second connector section particularly shaped to snappingly engage a hole in the fenders. The first and second connector sections are shaped for optimal low insertion force, yet high retention force. The first and second connectors have flexible arms that are oriented 90 degrees apart, permitting the connectors to slip in perpendicular directions in their respective receiving holes, thus providing improved tolerance and adjustability during installation. A method of assembly includes pre-attaching the fastener to the plastic component, and then attaching them as a unit to the metal component.

Abstract: A remotely operated bull rope release comprises a support, a releasable member having a spherical head and a remotely controlled release mechanism for releasing the end of the releasable member for separation from the support. The release mechanism includes a pair of gripping members pivotally mounted on the support on laterally opposite sides of the spherical head for displacement toward and away from the head and having spherical surfaces for capturing the head therebetween to hold the releasable member on the support. A latched, spring biased drive shaft is actuated to displace the gripping members in response to a control signal to release the head and to propel the releasable member away from the support.

Abstract: A nestably stackable assembly for use in a bedding foundation. The assembly has a rectangular border wire with parallel sides and ends. Transversely spaced, parallel and longitudinally extending support wires are connected at their ends to the border wire ends. The support wires are formed so as to be generally corrugated along their lengths with peaks and valleys. The peaks are flattened at their tops, and the flattened tops are generally coplanar with a plane defined by the border wire. The valleys are vertically displaced beneath and intermediate of the flattened tops. Longitudinally spaced and transversely extending, upper connector wires are connected to the sides of border wires, and the upper connector wires are connected along their lengths to the flattened tops of the peaks of the support wires. The valleys have flattened bottoms, and adjacent pairs of the flattened bottoms of the valley are interconnected by resilient connectors.

Abstract: A gemstone having a crown and a pavilion, spaced by a girdle, has an overall hexagon configuration, the signature of the stone. Facets are cut in the crown of the stone defining an hexagon table and an hexagram in the crown. Six (6) trapezoids frame the hexagram and high light the signature of the stone. Facets are cut in the pavilion of the stone so that the hexagonal signature of the stone is maintained. A sharp, six (6) pointed geometric figure is formed by six (6) trapezoid facets cut in the pavilion of the stone, each trapezoid extends from the apex of the stone, toward the girdle. Pairs of triangle facets cut in conjunction with the trapezoids soften the sharp, six (6) pointed geometric figure. The hexagonal figure on the pavilion which is symmetrical with the hexagram in the crown and with the signature of the stone.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement which comprises at least two abutting components that form a gap therebetween and a seal that sealingly bridges the gap. The inventive sealing arrangement is characterized in that the seal entirely consists of a matrix or is provided with a matrix representing a composite system. The matrix is combined with a base body and is a pasty mixture comprising a water-soluble material. A lubricant and a swelling agent which can be activated by means of water as well as optionally additional additives are mixed into the material. In an advantageous embodiment, the matrix is introduced into the chamber. The wall of the chamber is configured in the form of a web that can be torn out. The web is removed before assembly. The base body consisting of an elastomeric material is provided with channels and grooves which extend in an extruded-like manner.

Abstract: A flexible cable guide member and assembly, the assembly including first and second cable guide members each having a curved wall with open ends. The curved walls define first and second cable pathways respectively for receiving a telecommunications cable. A first end of the first guide member defines a socket. A second end of the second guide member is rounded to be received by the socket of the first guide member to produce a ball-and-socket joint between the first and second guide members. The second guide member is snap-fit into the socket of the first cable guide member. The guide members define longitudinal slots to allow cables to be added or removed from the assembly. The first and second guide members are preferably identical.

Abstract: A system for encapsulating a crawlspace against the entry of sub-soil water vapor and also against the entry of external ground water from the crawlspace walls and for completely isolating the building from water vapor from the earth. The present system comprises applying over the floor of the crawlspace, generally a dirt floor but sometimes a poured concrete floor, a continuous durable sealed plastic film barrier layer or laminate, and extending the barrier film vertically-upwardly to cover and seal the interior peripheral walls enclosing the crawlspace to an elevation at least slightly greater than the elevation of the ground in contact with the exterior surfaces of the peripheral walls and preferably to the tops of the peripheral walls. This encapsulates the dirt surface of the entire crawlspace against the penetration of external ground water or floor water and also sub-soil water and water vapor onto the surface of the plastic barrier film and into the crawlspace atmosphere.

Abstract: In a metallic gasket having a metallic sheet made with a recess surrounding around a diverse type of hole, in which an elastic sealing member is installed, a relation between the recess and the elastic sealing member in their cross sections and also configurations is so specified as to use the elastic sealing member within a range of elastic limit inherent in the elastic sealing member, thereby improving the sealing performance of the metallic gasket. The elastic sealing member is smaller than the recess in their cross section perpendicular to the major side of the metallic sheet. Thus, the elastic sealing member, when the metallic gasket is squeezed, may serve its useful function within the range of inherent elastic limit.

Abstract: A holding clip for mounting on a longitudinally ribbed bolt having an indicator for providing an audible signal when the bolt is fully inserted. The holding clip has a flexible rod having a free end which extends transversely across a receptacle chamber. The receptacle has a transverse wall situated slightly above the rod. When the bolt is inserted, the free end of the rod is pressed upwardly to audibly impact the transverse wall. The rod may be provided with a tab which protrudes through the transverse wall so that the tab end may be tactilely sensed or visually seen.

Abstract: A seat cushion is formed of a lower body and an upper body. The lower body is made of a polyurethane chip molded product containing fibrillated polyurethane chips with radial projections and a binder for binding the fibrillated polyurethane chips. The polyurethane chip molded product has 25 percent ILD hardness of 1,000 to 5,000 N and a density of 150 to 300 kg/M3. The upper body is made of soft polyurethane foam molded on the lower body. The upper body has 25 percent ILD hardness of 60 to 300 N and a density of 20 to 80 kg/M3.

Abstract: A bracelet includes at least one electronic display unit. Each display unit has a display having a plurality of display elements arranged in a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet and/or arranged in a sequence lying substantially around the perimeter of the display. The bracelet has a control circuit to control the display elements so that the characters displayed by the display elements appear to move along the sequence of display elements with time. In the alternative, the characters appear to move along a discrete face which is provided along the bracelet.