Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a mechanical ball joint assembly which is particularly useful in finishing tools. The finishing tools may be used, for example, to prepare drywall surfaces for decorating and/or painting. The mechanical ball joint assembly may allow a body casting of the finishing tool to rotate in almost any direction with respect to ball joint and handle portion of the finishing tool. As a result, the body casting may be used to perform work on the drywall at many different angles, including ninety degree angles at the corners of most rooms. An opening in the ball joint assembly of the finishing tool may secure a ball joint portion by, for example, a moveable securing rod having an indentation. The movable securing rod of the ball joint assembly may allow the user to temporarily secure the ball joint within the opening of the ball joint assembly. The movable securing rod is spring-loaded to secure the ball joint within the opening of the ball joint assembly.

Abstract: A connector for a bracket including a male adapter and a female adapter is provided. The male adapter includes a first base structure and a neck structure protruding out of the base structure and is disposed on a surface to be clamped. The neck structure includes multiple first lobes extending radially outward from the neck structure. The first lobes include a first mating surface contour on a bottom surface. The female adapter includes a second base structure. The second base structure includes multiple second lobes made of a flexible material. The second base structure also includes a second mating surface contour on a top surface and is configured to fit into said first mating surface contour thereby deforming said multiple second lobes to induce a clamping force between a shoulder of said female adapter and a surface of a bracket.

Abstract: A quick coupler for attaching implements, such as buckets or other tools, to heavy equipment, such as backhoes and excavators, which includes two recesses or channels for receiving a pair of machine pins of an implement. A hydraulic piston actuates a first locking lever to enclose one of the pair of machine pins in one recess and a second locking lever to enclose the other one of the pair of machine pins in the other recess.

Abstract: This invention relates to guardrails and guardrail impact heads for use in roading networks or vehicle road lanes requiring separation by a barrier. The invention provides an impact head for a guardrail including cable routing means adapted to form a convoluted path through which a cable can be threaded. The convoluted path that the cables must follow through the impact head of the invention restricts movement of the cable through the head, thereby providing sufficient friction to slow down the movement of the impact head during a vehicle impact. The invention also provides a method of constructing a guardrail including the steps of slidably interconnecting a plurality of rails and attaching them to posts, positioning an impact head according to any one of the preceding claims at one end of the slidably interconnected rails, threading at least one cable through the impact head and anchoring the cable to the ground.

Abstract: A bracket is provided for a bow. The bracket connects a header and a jamb. The bracket has a pair of end faces disposed generally orthogonal to one another with one end face abutting the header and the other abutting the jamb; and a pair of tongues extending from said end faces for engagement with end sockets formed in the ends of the header and jamb. The bracket is formed in two pieces arranged face to face along a medial plane extending between the end faces and held together by a fastener extending through a radial web that connects the end faces. Each said tongue is provided with at least one aperture therethrough alignable with similar apertures formed through the end sockets of the headers and jambs whereby a fastener can pass through the aligned apertures in a socket having a tongue inserted therein and fastened, to secure the components to one another.

Abstract: A passage block coupling apparatus is provided with a bolt insertion hole 13 and a pin insertion hole 14 formed in an upper-stage passage block 3, a screw hole 15 and a non-screw hole 16 that are formed in a lower-stage passage block 4, a bolt 11 that is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 13, and threaded with the screw hole 15, and a positioning pin 12 that is inserted to the pin insertion hole 14, with its lower end portion being fitted to the non-screw hole 16. A cut-out section 17 is formed near the lower end portion of the positioning pin 12, and a protruding portion 18 to be fitted to the cut-out section 17 is formed on the opening portion of the non-screw hole 16. A tightening force exerted by the bolt 11 and a force exerted by the lower end portion of the positioning pin 12 to press the protruding portion 18 of the non-screw hole 16 upward are balanced with each other so that an evenly fastened state is achieved so that the passage blocks 3 and 4 are coupled with each other.

Abstract: A rail system that may be comprised of various components such as an upper rail, support rail, bottom rail, squash blocks, balusters, post covers, and ancillary components, such as post skirts and caps. In one exemplary embodiment, the rail system may be uniquely designed to accommodate perpendicular and angled installations (e.g., both in the horizontal and vertical planes). Furthermore, in another exemplary embodiment, the rail system may be easily assembled such that the support hardware is substantially hidden from view after installation, thereby enhancing the appearance of the railing.

Abstract: A multi-axis coupling apparatus for adjustably mounting modular tooling members. The multi-axis coupling apparatus provides a first coupling member connectable to a substantially cylindrical boom for providing linear and rotational adjustment along and about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical boom. A second coupling member is connected to the first coupling member and is connectable to a modular tooling member for providing adjustment to the modular tooling member about and along an axis extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical boom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling between two objects via a coupling element. Each object comprises a panel with a continuous hole with four inward protruding tongues which are disposed at 90° to each other and extend over angles of about 22.5°. The coupling element comprises a shank, an insert stop member on both sides so that the coupling element can be inserted in the one or the other direction into the hole, four locking cams on each end zone of the shank which each extend over angles of 22.5° disposed at 0°, (90°?22.5°), 180°, (270°?22.5°), and rotation stop members. The coupling element can be inserted into the hole in a chosen orientation as desired in one of four equidistant angular positions and then rotated through about 22.5° in the one or the other direction, wherein rotation locking means fix the chosen angular position.

Abstract: A composite structural member is provided. The structural member includes a tubular shaft having a mating region of stiffness, and possibly thickness, greater than another region of said shaft. The shaft defines a lumen, and a fitting is disposed in the lumen. The fitting has a coupling region that defines at least one recessed portion bounded by one or more non-recessed portions, and the mating region mates with the coupling region of said fitting. As such, the shaft and fitting are mechanically restrained from at least some relative movement due to interference of the shaft and the fitting. A sleeve may be coupled to said shaft, for example, by including a tubular inner surface that proximately surrounds at least part of said shaft and mating region, for discouraging expansion of the mating region of said shaft.

Abstract: Internal dimensions for fixed-type constant velocity universal joints are defined to optimize the geometry of the components of the joints and to readily achieve a larger operating angle of the joints. In the joint, the track grooves of an outer ring and an inner ring are tapered by an angle not exceeding 12°. The ratio (f/PCR) of the cage offset amount f to PCR is greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to 0.12. The ratio (Do/d) of the cage outer diameter (Do) to the ball diameter (d), the ratio (t/d) of the cage wall thickness (t) to the ball diameter (d), and the ratio (w/d) of the cage width (w) to the ball diameter (d) are such that 3.9?Do/d?4.1, 0.31?t/d?0.34, and 1.8?w/d?2.0, respectively. The end of the spherical outer surface of the cage adjacent to the open end is axially extended, and the end of the spherical inner surface of the cage adjacent to the open end is tapered so that the tapered surface has an increasing diameter toward the end of the spherical outer surface adjacent to the open end.

Abstract: A ball joint comprises a ball stud having a stud portion at a middle thereof, a ball portion and a screw portion at opposite sides of the stud portion, and a seat surface portion facing the screw portion between the respective portions, and a bearing member into which the ball portion is slidably fitted so as to universally pivotably-support the ball stud, so that the stud portion is inserted through a mounting member, and a nut is screwed with the screw portion projected from the mounting member, and the seat surface portion abuts and is fastened to the mounting member by fastening the nut to the mounting member. The seat surface portion abutting the mounting member is subjected to a co-rotation preventing process which prevents the ball stud from co-rotating along with the nut when the nut is fastened.

Abstract: A reinforcing bar comprises a shaft extending along a portion of the length of the bar and a termination extending along an end portion of the bar. The termination incorporating an engagement face incorporating locking formations thereon arranged to interfit with a complementary shaped termination to form an interlock operative to accommodate axial loading.

Abstract: A mounting for an optical apparatus includes a joint ball (1), a mounting device (2) for the optical apparatus and means for fixing the mounting device to the joint ball (1). The mounting device has two rings (6, 7) which are arranged displaceable to one another and are also movable on the joint ball (1) and surround the joint ball. A fixing means (3) is disposed between the rings (6, 7) and connects them, the whole such that the rings can be moved simultaneously and jointly.

Abstract: A joining component is joined to a joint component. The joining component includes an insertion hole and two fitting holes. The joint component includes a fusible shaft at a position corresponding to the insertion hole and two protrusions at positions corresponding to the fitting holes. The joining component is placed on the joint component such that the fusible shaft is inserted into the insertion hole, and the protrusions fit into the fitting holes. The fusible shaft is then fused by using ultrasonic vibrations.

Abstract: A railing system for decks and stairs has identical top and bottom metal extruded rails with upright spindles extended between the rails. Anchor balls secured to the rails with fasteners hold the spindles in assembled relation with the rails. The anchor balls have continuous circumferential ribs located in a force fit relationship with inside surfaces of the spindles.

Abstract: A system includes a support, an actuator and a swivel joint coupling the actuator to the support. The swivel joint includes a first base member, a second base member, and a spider positioned between the first and second base members. The spider includes a center support and first and second bearing support elements. Each bearing support element has an arcuate surfaces adapted to form joints with the first and second base members. In one embodiment, at least one shim element disposed is between at least one of the first and second bearing support elements and the center support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an device for connecting lines, especially to a quick connector, comprising at least one connector adapted to be joined with a line end by means of friction welding. A controlled release of excess melt is achieved by that the connecting device is provided with means for withdrawing the melt producible by the friction welding from the its area of the origin.

Abstract: A retaining structure is used to retain a wooden first part and a wooden second part together and includes a retainer fitted to a recess of the first part, and a fastening member to be engaged to the second part. The fastening member has a plurality of wings formed on two sides of an acting end thereof. A number of recessed portions is mounted between front and rear sides of the fastening member and spaced apart from each other, and the fastening member further includes a plurality of raised portions. The recessed and raised portions are arranged longitudinally or horizontally between the front and rear sides of the acting end of the fastening member.

Abstract: A cantilever plate connection element (1) for connecting a floor/ceiling plate.