Abstract: A roller cutter for cutting a material includes a rotatable roller, a rotatable blade, and a rotation transmission mechanism. The roller includes an outer rim configured to engage the material at a roller engagement point. The blade includes a cutting edge configured to cut the material at a blade engagement point. The blade engagement point is spaced from the roller engagement point. The rotation transmission mechanism is configured to drivingly interconnect the blade and the roller such that the blade rotates faster than the roller. The roller cutter is configured such that the cutting edge applies both a compressive shear force and a tangential shear force to the material at the blade engagement point as the blade is pressed into the material and the blade and the roller rotate.

Abstract: A pin may be arranged in a hole located on an outer diameter surface of a cylinder of a rotary die cutting arrangement. The pin proximal end may be received in the hole and the pin distal end may project from an outer surface of the cylinder. The pin proximal end has a boss. The pin has a longitudinal slit extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The slit has a width and length dimensioned to provide the proximal end with sufficient resiliency to allow the proximal end to be compressed to a position where the boss of the pin proximal end has a diameter less than the diameter of the hole to allow the boss to pass through the hole, and release to a position where the diameter of the boss is greater than the hole diameter to retain the pin in the hole.

Abstract: An ice fishing tip-up includes a base frame adapted to span a hole in a layer of ice over a body of water, and carrying a mast which is extendible through the hole into the water. The mast includes a shaft fixed at its lower end to a spool of fishing line and at its upper end to a cam cylinder with a helical groove formed in its outer surface. A signal staff is spring-biased to a raised position and is movable to a lowered position received in one of the convolutions of the helical groove. A pull on the fishing line rotates the cam until the staff reaches the end of the helical groove, releasing it to its raised position, the amount of pull required to trip the staff being adjustable with the cam groove convolution in which it is retained.

Abstract: A compliant mechanism is configured to generate a substantially constant output force in response to an input in the form of a linear displacement. The compliant mechanism is a slider mechanism whose members and their interconnects cooperate to generate a biasing force that causes the slider mechanism to generate a substantially constant output force that is substantially parallel to the linear path of a reciprocable member in response to the displacement of the reciprocable member along the linear path. To achieve the above functional characteristics, the slider mechanism is composed of structural elements, one or more of which is compliant.

Abstract: The pliers include an endless loop, a top jaw appended to the endless loop, and a bottom jaw appended to the endless loop. The endless loop includes in series a top grip handle, a spring segment, a bottom grip handle and a compliant strip interconnecting the top and bottom grip handles. A rolling surface on the top grip handle rolls on a contact portion of the bottom grip handle. The rolling action causes the compliant strip to flex which causes the top and bottom jaws to move toward one another. The endless loop provides a built-in automatic spring and enhances lateral stability.