Abstract: An expansion fastener for hardware elements for furniture comprises an externally ribbed anchor (11) in which an insert (13) is fitted, which insert has a cam surface (14) sliding on a corresponding cam surface (15) in the anchor body for causing a radial expansion of the anchor when the insert is moved by pulling means (16). The insert (13) comprises a fitting end (17) extending radially in a region free from the anchor body and is secured to the pulling means to be susceptible of inclination in the extension direction of said end (17). On axial movement towards the expansion position, the insert slides on the cam surface to receive a thrust for inclination and move said end outwardly of the anchor and towards the pulling direction.

Abstract: Novel polymers are provided which are produced by recombinant techniques. The polymers are characterized by having a small repeating sequence which provides for strands capable of associating, resulting in useful structural characteristics, where the strands are joined by turns or loops which are flexible and available for interaction with the environment. Specifically, repeating groups of naturally occurring proteins such as silk are modified by introduction of an amino-acid sequence at a site which provides for a turn between strands to provide for readily available oligopeptides capable of interacting with molecules in the environment.

Abstract: A hinge for furniture having a base (10) comprising a first element (41) which at the upper part thereof has coupling surfaces for a hinge wing and at the lower part thereof has a groove (20) receiving a second element (30) intended for being fastened to a piece of furniture. The first and second elements are mutually slidable in a direction transverse to the hinge extension by means of a rotary cam (27). The second element (30) is received in the groove in a drawer-like slidable manner in said transverse direction and the first element (41) comprises a through hole (25) disposed between the groove and the upper part. The cam (27) has a pivot pin (28) for rotation control which is fitted in said through hole (25) to be rotated therethrough, and the second element (30) has a face thereof turned towards the groove from which teeth (33, 35) forming reaction surfaces for the cam project, which teeth are disposed on opposite sides of the cam in the transverse direction.

Abstract: Novel polymers are provided which are produced by recombinant techniques. The polymers are characterized by having a small repeating sequence which provides for strands capable of associating, resulting in useful structural characteristics, where the strands are joined by turns or loops which are flexible and available for interaction with the environment. Specifically, repeating groups of naturally occurring proteins such as silk are modified by introduction of an amino-acid sequence at a site which provides for a turn between strands to provide for readily available oligopeptides capable of interacting with molecules in the environment.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising repetitive units of amino acids, as well as synthetic genes encoding the subject polypeptides are provided. The subject polypeptides are characterized by comprising repetitive units of amino acids, where the repetitive units are present in naturally occurring proteins, particularly naturally occurring structural proteins. The subject polypeptides find use in a variety of applications, such as structural components of prosthetic devices, synthetic fibers, and the like.

Abstract: A product tray (3) has a bottom (7), which is improved in respect to heat transfer between a heating plate (8) and the product (9). The bottom (7) is made of a flexible, thin, heat-resistant material. It therefore can make a good form fit to the heating plate (8) under good heat contact, in particular when weighted down by the product (9).

Abstract: An element 10 for manufacturing a drawer is made of a bordered strip (11, 111, 211, 311, 411) which can be folded crosswise to its extension along scored lines (12, 13) to form the sides of a drawer. The strip has, on a first face, a rib (14) close to one edge of the strip and extending longitudinally to the extension of the strip. The rib (14) is designed to fit into a groove (16) along the side of the base of the drawer. Disposed on the opposite face of the strip are runners (18, 19) secured to the strip a by fastening device (23, 24) which traverse the strip to be at least partially contained in the cross section of the rib (14).

Abstract: A single-pin furniture hinge of the box type comprises a first (11) and a second (12) fastening element designed to be fastened to two furniture parts to be hinged together and an arm (15) provided at one end with the first fastening element (11) and at the other end with hinging elements (16) for hinging it to the second fastening element (12) to achieve the articulation of the hinge. The arm (15) is composed of a first (19) and a second (20) part which reciprocally slide upon operation of adjusting screw (31) to enable adjustment of the reciprocal position of the two fastening elements (11, 12). The adjusting screw (31) having its axis coinciding with the direction of adjustment of the hinge and cooperating with said first (19) and second (20) part to achieve their reciprocal sliding upon rotation of the screw.

Abstract: A device (10) for adjustably fitting a drawer runner on a furniture unit, comprises a first plate (11) with fastening means (12) for securing it to the furniture unit, and a second plate (13) with fastening means (14) for securing it to the runner. The two plates comprise guides (17, 18) for reciprocal sliding constraint. An eccentric cam (20) is received in a first slot (19) in a plate and has a pivot (22) which is received in a second slot (21) in the other plate, thereby achieving the reciprocal sliding of the two plates parallelly to the guides constraining the manual rotation of the cam. The plate with the second slot (21) has a slanted plane (23) which extends in the sliding direction of the constraining guides (17, 18) and towards the second slot (21) to constitute sliding surfaces for the pivot (22) during the assembly of the two plates by reciprocal sliding along the constraining guides until the end of the pivot snaps into the second slot (21).

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of large polypeptides containing repeating sequences of amino acids utilizing biochemical techniques, specifically DNA sequences coding for the expression of the large polypeptides. Systems utilizing exogenous transcriptional and translational regions to control the production of the large polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: An cam adjusting device (30) comprises a first and second element sliding reciprocally and a cam (32) pivoted to the first element by means of a pivot (33) rotating around an axis (48) to react with one of its lateral surfaces (35, 38) against a bearing surface (34, 37) on the second element, upon rotation of the cam around the axis thereby achieving sliding and adjustment of the reciprocal position of the first and second element. The cam is shaped so that, for any angular position of the cam in its active stroke the centre of rotation of the cam is substantially in the region of a straight line (41) passing through a point (36) of contact between a lateral surface of the cam and a bearing surface of the second element, said straight line being slanted at an angle .phi. identical to the angle of friction in the point of contact. A cam meeting this condition has been found maximize the amplitude of the adjustment without encountering instability.

Abstract: Collagen-like polymers having repetitive triads are produced having reduced proline content, where glycine is the initial amino acid and the subsequent amino acids are varied, while retaining at least a minimum percentage of prolines. The resulting polymers have collagen-like properties, but are capable of being produced in unicellular microorganisms at high molecular weights and in high efficiency. The polymers, while retaining collagen-like characteristics, include various novel sequences which impart new characteristics, finding wide use in photographic, medical, structural and fiber applications.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides comprising repetitive units of amino acids, as well as synthetic genes encoding the subject polypeptides are provided. The subject polypeptides are characterized by comprising repetitive units of amino acids, where the repetitive units are present in naturally occurring proteins, particularly naturally occurring structural proteins. The subject polypeptides find use in a variety of applications, such as structural components of prosthetic devices, synthetic fibers, and the like.

Abstract: Underground storage tank consisting of an internal metal structure (1), a static external facing (2) in contact with the surrounding soil (3) and a filler (5) located between the metal structure (1) and the static facing (2), the filler (5) being stabilized by a netting (6) secured onto the metal structure (1) by joint plates (7), while the netting is embedded in the filler (5) which is thickened by charging vessels (18) combined with feed bushes (15) through which the filler (5) is poured into the cavity wall. For Liquid Gas Low Temperature Storage Tanks, the transverse channels (4) for detection and drainage of any leaks are consisting of two omega shaped sections (21, 22) whereas blown or non-blown bitumen to which polymers are added is used as a filler (5).

Abstract: A furniture hinge comprises a first (11) and a second (12) fastening element designed to be secured to two furniture parts to be hinged together, and an arm (15) which ends at one extremity with the first fastening element (11) and at the other extremity has a pivot (16) pivoting it to the second fastening element (12) to achieve the joint of the hinge. The arm (15) is made in two portions (17, 18) sliding reciprocally upon operation of adjusting means (22) composed of a cam (23) to allow adjustment of the reciprocal position of the first and second fastening element. Advantageously, the sliding surface (20) of the second portion (18) comprises an elongated housing (24) to receive the cam (23) with a lateral surface of the cam which reacts against the side walls of the housing. The sliding surface (19) of the first portion (17) comprises a through hole (25) which receives, with a minimum of side play, a control pin (26) protruding from the cam so as to be operated from the outside.

Abstract: A clamping tool designed for clamping sheet metal runners onto the side panels of drawers comprises an elongated grippable casing, at one end of which is a clamp (27, 127) composed of a pair of jaws (20, 21, 121) designed to grip a clamping area of a runner clasping the edge of a side panel of the drawer. Inside the casing is a actuator (18, 118) for moving a wedge-shaped element (19, 119). At least one jaw (21, 121) of the pair is made on the extremity of a lever (22, 122) having its other extremity (24, 124) slidingly resting on the wedge-shaped element (19, 119). Upon actuation of the actuator, the wedge (19, 119) slides over the extremity (24, 124) of the lever (22, 122) to rotate it around a pivot (23, 123) lying between the extremities and shift the jaws towards each other.

Abstract: A unit for fastening iron fittings (43) to furniture parts, comprises an expansion plug (11) which axially receives a pin (12) rotatable between an insertion position and an expansion position of the expansion plug. The pin has a radial protrusion (34) designed to imprison an iron fitting between it and an opposing top end of the expansion plug. The radial protrusion defines a flat surface, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin, which extends partially over a coupling seat (35) formed in the opposing top end (14) of the expansion plug around the passage (13) for insertion of the pin in the expansion plug, the bottom (36) of the seat forming a surface facing the flat surface of the radial protrusion, the slot (35) having a side wall (38) facing a corresponding side wall (39) of the pin. The seat (35) can thus receive a substantially complementary portion provided on the iron fitting in correspondence with a hole in the latter for the passage of the pin.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of large polypeptides containing repeating sequences of amino acids utilizing biochemical techniques, specifically DNA sequences coding for the expression of the large polypeptides. Systems utilizing exogenous transcriptional and translational regions to control the production of the large polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A furniture hinge (10, 110) has a wing (11, 111) and a cup (12, 112) interconnected with each other by a lower link rod (14, 114) and an upper link rod (15, 115). A torsion spring (25, 125) is wound round a pin (21, 121) inside the wing and parallel to the pivots of the link rods so as to have a thrust arm (22, 122) which acts upon a protrusion (20, 120) of the lower link rod facing towards the pin of the spring to push the hinge towards the closed position during a last section of the movement. The pivoting of the lower link rod (14, 114) to the wing is substantially between the pin (21, 121) of the spring and the pivoting of the upper link rod (15, 115) to the wing. The torsion spring advantageously has a reaction arm (123) which rests on the lower link rod (114).

Abstract: An expansion plug fastening assembly (15, 115) for fastening a hardware element (13, 113), in particular a runner for drawers, to a hole (11, 111), comprises an expansion plug casing (10, 110) which fits into the hole. The casing (10, 110) comprises an axial housing (16, 17, 116, 117) axially rotatably housing the shank (24, 25, 124, 125) of a pin (22, 122) for fastening the hardware element. At least one first segment of the shank (25, 125) has an axis (23) eccentric with respect to the head (18, 118) to permit adjustment of the position of the hardware element in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pin on rotation of the pin. The shank advantageously also comprises a second segment (24, 124) coaxial to the head and the housing comprising a first (17, 117) and a second portion (16, 116) receiving the first (25, 125) and the second segment (24, 124) respectively.