Abstract: A fastening structure includes an operating engaging element and a body portion. The operating engaging element has an engaging portion and an operating portion. The operating portion has a moving surface abutting against a corresponding moving surface of the operating engaging element to cause movement of the operating engaging element. The body portion has a mounting portion which the operating engaging element is mounted on; or the operating engaging element has a mounting portion which the body portion is mounted. With the engaging portion, the operating engaging element is fastened to an object, and the body portion is fastened to another object, thereby fastening the two objects together. Unfastening the two objects entails pressing the operating portion such that the moving surface of the operating portion abuts against the corresponding moving surface of the operating engaging element to cause movement of the operating engaging element, thereby separating the objects.

Abstract: A damper device includes first to third rotating elements rotatable about a rotational center; a first elastic element located between the first and third rotational elements and compressed by relative rotation of the first rotational element to the third rotational element in one rotational direction; a second elastic element located between the second and third rotational elements and compressed by relative rotation of the third rotational element to the second rotational element in the one rotational direction, a support member intervenient between the third rotational element and the first elastic element to support the first elastic element; and a restrictor provided with the third rotational element to rotatably support the support member in a plane orthogonal to the rotational center, to restrict the support member from rotating beyond a certain angle and from moving away from the third rotational element in rotational directions.

Abstract: An assembly for coupling a first component with a second component. The assembly may comprise first and second connectors respectively associated with the first and second components, a first biasing member carried by either the first or second connector, and a second biasing member also carried by either the first connector or the second connector. When mated together, the first and second connectors are biased in a first direction by the first biasing member thereby constraining relative movement between the connectors in the first direction. The connectors are also biased in a second direction by the second biasing member thereby constraining relative movement between the connectors in the second direction, wherein the second direction is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction. And the connectors are relatively slidable in a third direction different from the first and second directions.

Abstract: A post for a fit together panel comprising at least one said post and at least one slat, the post comprising a base member and a cover member, the cover member comprising a pair of sidewalls and an interconnecting end wall, the interconnecting end wall containing a plurality of openings through which the end of a slat can pass, the sidewalls adapted for extension over the channel member, the base member comprising a base wall and opposed sidewalls, at least one sidewall comprising a clamping leg adapted for clamping engagement against the end of a said slat passing through a said opening in the cover member, and snap fitting means on the channel member and/or the cover member to enable the channel member and the cover member to be snap fitted together.

Abstract: A laminated load ring for a balloon assembly includes a plurality of ring stacking units stacked one on top of the other. Each of the ring stacking units can include a main body having a central opening, a plurality of arms, and at least one weld line. The plurality of arms may each extend away from the main body around a circumference of the main body. The at least one weld line can be formed on the main body. The plurality of arms of the plurality of ring stacking units may be aligned with one another. The weld line of each of the plurality of ring stacking units may be offset from the weld line of a directly adjacent ring stacking unit in a direction extending around the circumference of the laminated load ring.

Abstract: A free slant platform includes a ball structure with a rotator structure including a stopping hole formed on a side thereof, a loading plate located above the ball structure and fixedly connected with the ball structure, a supporting member connected with an outer wall of the ball structure and configured to support the ball structure, a stop member movably connected with the supporting member and linearly moved along an axis direction of the ball structure to clamp with the stopping hole for braking the ball structure. When the stop member presses on the ball structure, the stop member is clamped with the stopping hole to limit rotation of the ball structure; when the stop member is separated from the ball structure, the ball structure is restored to a free rotation state. The ball structure is taken as a supporting point to incline the loading plate along a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A connector for connecting two members having a body of composite material consisting of reinforcing fibers embedded in a plastic matrix of resin, for connecting the two members to one another, and having a housing, a mounting ring installed in the housing, a swivel installed in the mounting ring and capable of allowing, by swivelling in the mounting ring, articulation between the two members to be connected, the swivel acting as a fastening area for one of the two members. The reinforcing fibers form, with the resin, plies which, when stacked, form a laminate, and the mounting ring is fastened in the housing of the body of the connector to prevent any movement of the mounting ring relative to the body of the connector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a railing assembly further comprised of a top and bottom rail separated by balusters. The balusters are connected to one another by means of spacers, which are in turn connected to both the top and bottom rails by means of a snap-fit connection. A method of assembly of the rail assembly is also disclosed, comprised of snap-fitting the spacers to the top and bottom rails and installing the balusters in between pairs of adjacent spacers, and repeating this process for a given length of the top and bottom rails.

Abstract: A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.

Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.

Abstract: A socket for a ball joint having a socket body with an opening and a hollow space, which comprises a concave inside peripheral surface that delimits the hollow space and extends around a longitudinal axis, and which is axially divided into two body halves which merge together in a transition zone, each of which comprises an inside peripheral surface half. A first body half comprises a first inside peripheral surface half which lies on a spherical surface and is closed, in the circumferential direction, and a second body half which comprises the socket opening, at least one slot extending axially and a second inside peripheral surface half which is closed in the circumferential direction, or closed apart from the slot. The second body half is designed such that the second inside peripheral surface half lies outside the spherical surface at least an axial distance away from the transition zone.

Abstract: A dual plunging constant velocity (CV) drive shaft is provided for communicating rotational forces from a transaxle to a drive wheel of a vehicle. The dual plunging CV drive shaft comprises a drive shaft that transfers torque from the transaxle to the drive wheel. An inboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the transaxle and the drive shaft, and an outboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the drive shaft and the drive wheel. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints each comprises an elongate housing that receives a CV joint coupled with the drive shaft. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints communicate rotational forces from the transaxle to the drive wheel during vertical pivoting of a trailing arm coupled with the outboard plunging CV joint. The elongate housings allow the drive shaft to “float” longitudinally, as needed, during extreme pivoting motion of the suspension.

Abstract: A composite element (10) for use in construction, in particular building construction or civil engineering, which composite element comprises at least two components and at least one fastening element (11) for connecting the components. A first component has at least one assembly pin (13), which is cylindrical in particular. The fastening element (11) is configured as a clamping element such that it can be force-fittingly connected to the assembly pin (13). The invention further relates to a use of a fastening element (11) configured as a clamping element.

Abstract: A constant velocity ball joint uses a star shaped sleeve with a splined connection to its shaft. The sleeve is longitudinally retained on its shaft using a retaining ring in an outwardly facing groove of the shaft. The star shaped sleeve has a 30° assembly assist chamfer angle on one side, as well as a 45° transition chamfer angle and a 65° ramp chamfer angle facing the opposite direction. These angles control the diameter of the retaining ring as it is compressed inward into the groove during assembly and disassembly. The star shaped sleeve can be used in a dynamic length CV joint, with the splines of a configuration that allows longitudinal sliding of the sleeve on the shaft, so the shell of the dynamic length CV joint still can be of the spherical race type.

Abstract: A coupling device for the torque-transmitting connection of a transmission with an electric machine, includes a drive element and an output element which are coupled with each other in a torque-transmitting manner. The drive element and the output element are electrically separated from each other by way of an electrical insulator.

Abstract: A drive shaft coupling for connecting a rotating tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine wherein high pressure fluid is pumped through the coupling, wherein the coupling is sealed to contain the high pressure fluid, and wherein a machine driven rotary flexible shaft passes through the coupling.

Abstract: A rotatable structural bracket includes a top plate for placement in a horizontal rest position on an end of a structural section that has an internal void. The rotatable structural bracket also includes a rotatable extension for placement into the internal void of the structural section. The rotatable extension can be configured as a wedge that is rotatable out from the internal void to angle the top plate at any acute angle relative to the horizontal rest position of the top plate. The top plate and the rotatable extension are of single-piece construction, and the rotatable extension rotates relative to the structural section and internal of the structural section. The rotatable extension also encompasses an opening of the internal void at any acute angle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of cable railing systems are disclosed. Although not limited to these applications, the embodiments are particularly useful in connection with cable railing systems with hollow metal support members or with solid concrete support members with weld plates. The embodiments include straight and corner cable termination assemblies that are designed to support a metal cable railing, particularly one that is heavy gauge.

Abstract: A system for axially retaining two coaxial components includes an inner component having an annular compression groove formed in a radially outer surface thereof, an outer component having an annular engagement groove formed in a radially inner surface thereof, and a split retaining ring installed in the annular compression groove of the inner component, wherein the split retaining ring is adapted for movement between a radially compressed condition to facilitate axial engagement of the inner component within the outer component and a radially expanded condition to facilitate radial engagement of the split retaining ring in the annular engagement groove of the outer component, so that the inner and outer components are axially locked together.

Abstract: A bushing assembly comprises a flanged bushing including a flange portion including a flange anti-rotation feature, and a shaft portion with an outer cylindrical surface extending from the flange portion, terminating at a free end, the outer cylindrical surface including external threads disposed proximate the free end, and a retaining ring including an annular configuration defining an inner cylindrical surface defining internal threads complimentarily shaped to mate with the external threads of the outer cylindrical surface.