Abstract: A spacer is disclosed which is made of a metal and interposed between opposed faces of two members having respective bores co-axial with each other and fastened to each other by inserting a fastening member into the bores and tightening the fastening member. The spacer includes a base interposed between the opposed faces of the members and having a through hole co-axial with the bores of the respective members so that the fastening member is inserted through the hole, and a temporarily retaining portion provided on an open edge of the hole of the base for temporarily retaining the overall spacer on one of the members before the members are fastened to each other, the temporarily retaining portion being inserted into the bore of the one member and caught on a wall defining the bore.

Abstract: A buckle is provided with a female member 5 having first and second engaging portions 13 and 14, and a male member 6 having first and second engagement pieces 20 and 21. By inserting the male member 6 into the female member 5, the first engaging portion 13 engages with the first engaging piece 20, and the second engaging portion 14 engages with the second engaging piece 21, thereby, female member 5 and male member 6 are connected. The male member 5 and female member 6 are not separated, unless engagement between first engaging piece 20 and first engaging portion 13, as well as engagement between second engaging piece 21 and second engaging portion 14, are released by means of both a first operating portion 11 and a second operating portion 12 which are separately provided on the front and rear of female member 5 being pressed inwardly.

Abstract: A buckle for capturing and releasably retaining an end tab of a flexible strap wherein the flexible strap has a substantially uniform width and thickness and an end tab of increased thickness. The buckle includes a base, and parallel side walls, which extend upwardly from and cooperate with the base to define an open-ended receiving channel having an entry end and an exit end. Flanges are spaced vertically from the base and extend inwardly in cantilever fashion from the side walls to define an opening-ended slot communicating with and extending along the length of the receiving channel. The slot is configured and dimensioned to accommodate longitudinal pinching and lateral insertion of the strap into the receiving channel. The flanges have undersides configured to accommodate receipt of the end tab in the receiving channel via the entry end, and to releasably retain and prevent withdrawal of the end tab from the receiving channel via the exit end.

Abstract: A w-based panel fastener for securing a molding to a panel includes a nose and a pair of offset wings extending from the nose. The nose has a longitudinal length, an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The wings are spaced from each other along the longitudinal length of the nose, and each of the wings includes a guide portion extending from the outer surface of the nose and a retainer portion extending generally from the inner surface of the nose. The spaced apart guide portions of the wings form a surface for initial insertion into the opening in the panel. The retainer portion of the wings is adapted to interfit with the opening in the panel to secure the fastener to the panel.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-quality slider for a slide fastener provided with an automatic locking device, wherein the slider comprises a body, a pull, and the spring with the locking pawl, the spring is formed in an inverted U-shape comprising an upper and lower elements by cutting and bending a linear material having a same cross-sectional shape, a locking pawl is provided at a front end of the lower element, the body comprises a front and rear side attaching portions, a housing groove is provided at each attaching portion to house the spring so as to fix it to the upper element, a projection amount regulating portion of the locking pawl is provided on a wall of a pawl hole to elastically contact a base portion of a pawl element thereto, and a rear face of the upper element attached to the rear side attaching portion regulates an upward movement of the pawl element.

Abstract: The invention includes a belt clip for mounting objects to a user's belt. The belt clip has a resilient U-shaped member portion and a hollow hanger member. The resilient U-shaped member portion having an upper end and a lower end with a U-bend portion at the upper end and parallel inner and outer walls extending downwardly from the U-bend. A gap is defined between the inner and outer walls for slidably engaging a belt. The hollow hanger member portion protrudes outwardly from the outer wall of the U-shaped member portion and has a generally downwardly facing wall with an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture provides a means for mounting objects to the belt.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastener slider, wherein the fastener element comprising an element main body constituted of a base portion attached to a fastener tape, a neck portion and an engaging head portion continuous from the neck portion and expanding in a tape length direction and stiffening means provided on the element main body, allowing a fastener stringer to bend when the elements are separated and inhibiting the fastener chain from bending when the elements are engaged in a stiffening condition, the stiffening means having a first firm contact face making firm contact with mating stiffening means when the elements are engaged and a second firm contact face making firm contact with a partial surface of the engaging head portion of the fastener element when the elements are engaged, thereby the slide fastener having a rigid, linear or curved rod-like configuration when fastener elements are engaged, allowing it to deform in multiple directions.

Abstract: A rope cleat including at least rope abutment and at least one cam mounted on a flat base surface. The cam is spring biased to rotate toward an abutment surface. A cover is positionable over the cam and abutment such that, in one position, the rope is restrained from inadvertent withdrawal from between the cam and abutment and in another position permits quick engagement and withdrawal of the rope from between the cam and abutment. One version of the invention is a sliding cover. Another version of the invention is a cover that is rotatable between the retain and withdrawal positions. Yet another version is a flip up cover. In one embodiment, a single cam-abutment-cover assembly is mounted on the base surface. In another embodiment, a cam-abutment-cover pair is mounted on the base surface. In another embodiment, a cam-cam-cover is mounted on a base surface where the cams rotate toward each other to secure the rope.

Abstract: A magnetic hinge defining a hinge axis includes first and second hinge plates of non-magnetic material and first and second magnets disposed therein, respectively, for movement therewith. The plates are generally parallel and independently pivotable about the hinge axis between a closed orientation, wherein the plates are essentially superposed, and an open orientation, wherein the plates are essentially not superposed. The first and second magnets are essentially superposed, generally coaxial with the hinge axis, and in the same magnetic orientation.

Abstract: A waterproof slide fastener and a manufacturing apparatus thereof, wherein each fastener element has a coupling head, a neck portion, a body portion, and leg portions which are continuously fused and integrated, a terminal end is projected from a gap between upper/lower half portions of the coupling head, upper/lower flanges of a slider make a sliding contact with a surface of each of upper/lower half portions of each leg portion, each half portion of the leg portion is formed in a flat plate shape with a step and thinner than each half portion of the neck portion and the body portion in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the fastener tape lies, and extending from the body portion via a crotch portion and guiding the flanges, two or more leg portions are disposed with a predetermined interval in a sliding direction.

Abstract: Window shade adjustment and leveling devices for controllably grasping a window shade cord for setting and leveling a window shade. The devices have a body with a button member extending into the body and having protrusions locking therein using a form of bayonet lock. Holes in the body and button member align when the button member is depressed relative to the body of insertion of the cord, with the cord being locked in position relative to the device when the button member is released. Preferably the holes in the body are specially configured to increase the gripping strength of the device, with the protrusions on the button member aiding in the gripping.

Abstract: A clip that is able to form a separate space in the hollow member such as flexible tube or bag-like article and the like or to block its opening part by clipping hollow member. The clip includes two plate-like members with one plate-like member having a groove formed in a longitudinal direction of the plate-like member and the other plate-like member having a projection part formed in the longitudinal direction. The form of the projection part is made highest in a vicinity of a central part of the clip and lowest at both end parts of the plate-like member.

Abstract: A device in a cable tie is disclosed. The device includes an elongate band part of a certain width and thickness, which at one end has an elongate insertion narrower than the band part and terminates in a grip tab, and at its other end has a locking head. The locking head has, on the one hand, a through-opening which is intended for the band part and has substantially the same width as the band part but a height greater than the thickness of the band part and, on the other hand, a slot-shaped recess in one transverse wall of the opening, the width of which recess is such that it will allow the insertion part to be inserted into the opening via the recess, forming a band loop. On the band part there is toothing and in the locking head a locking tongue provided with toothing, which are designed, by way of a positive interlock, to lock the band part in relation to the locking head.

Abstract: A buckle includes a base made by pressing and formed with two walls, a cross member between the walls and a jaw between the walls. A jaw is made by rolling and formed with a cam, two non-circular blocks extending from the cam and two shafts extending from the non-circular blocks into an aperture defined in each of the walls of the base. A handle is made by pressing and formed with a touch portion and two non-circular braces for holding the non-circular blocks of the jaw. A handle is installed on the base so that a gap is defined between the jaw of the base and the jaw of the handle. The handle can be pivoted on the base between a first position where the gap is small and a second position where the gap is large. An elastic element tends to keep the handle in the first position.

Abstract: A web for use in applying a functional material is provided. The web includes a layer that has a plurality of elevated regions. The layer defines a plurality of cavities such that the cavities are located between adjacent elevated regions. A plurality of depressed regions are located on the layer intermediate the elevated regions. The layer has a longitudinal direction and a longitudinal mid-plane defined therethrough. A plurality of functional material members are located in the cavities of the layer. The functional material members are adapted for adhesion of particles or surfaces thereon. The layer is extendable in the longitudinal direction so that the elevated regions are moved in a direction towards the longitudinal mid-plane.

Abstract: A utility clip may include a base and a cover that is pivotably secured to the base. The base may include a pair of guide flanges that, along with the cover, cooperate to create a passage to retain and support a cable or wire. The guide flanges may be angled in the manner that creates a generally smooth path of travel for a cable or wire retained in the clip. As a result, the flanges may prevent kinking or over-bending of the wire or cable. Furthermore, by creating a path of travel for the wire or cable the user may avoid tangling the wire or cable around himself/herself or around other nearby wires, cables or equipment.

Abstract: A clip and hose clamp for holding the slotted distal portion of the clamp band against the clamp band to prevent harmful contact with the distal end of the clamp band. The clip includes a main panel having side panels orthogonally extending from side margins of the main panel. The side panels are spaced apart a distance equal to a width of the clamp band to receive the clamp band and prevent relative rotational movement therebetween. A locking tab extends inwardly from opposite corners of each of the side panels and spaced parallel to the main panel, the gap therebetween being slightly greater than twice the thickness of the clamp band. The locking tabs are further configured for the clip to be twist locked onto the clamp band and to receive and hold the end portion against the clamp band.

Abstract: A cylinder band for immobilizing an air cylinder on a buoyancy regulator includes a belt, a buckle and a coupler adapted to couple the belt and buckle. The buckle has a pair of parallel supporting walls, which have longitudinally opposite first ends and second ends. A pivot extends through the first ends, with end surfaces thereof defining cam surfaces that enhance a tensity of the belt as the second ends swing around the pivot while the end surfaces are in contact with the peripheral surface. The end surfaces each has a pair of convexly curved surface segments spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface, which are adapted to contact the peripheral surface at once. A concavely curved surface segment extends between the convexly curved surface segments and has a curvature radius which is the same as or less than a radius of the peripheral surface.

Abstract: A water balloon clip that provides a quick, easy, and low-cost means for sealing a balloon orifice. For example, the water balloon clip may comprise a first slit and a second slit and together the slits comprise a substantially Z-like shape. A user may then seal a balloon by inserting the balloon neck in the first slit and then tucking the balloon neck into the second slit.

Abstract: A metallic slide fastener element in which an exposed portion outside of an element is finished uniformly with a high smoothness and the fixing strength to a fastener tape is intensified, and a method for effectively manufacturing the same element, wherein a metallic flat type wire rod is placed on a die and the flat type wire rod is punched out with a punch so as to produce a slide fastener element, and at this time, a mouth on a punch side of the die or a peripheral edge of the die is chamfered at a radius of 0.01 to 1.0 mm and a clearance between the punch and the die is set to 0 to 30 ?m, so that an element, which has a cut surface comprising a shear surface of 80% or more and a fracture surface of less than 20% and is suitable as a slide fastener to be attached to a high quality product, is obtained.