Abstract: In a suction foot operating mechanism comprising a suction foot housing with a suction membrane, a shaft attached to the suction membrane, a transverse pin extending through a transverse opening in the shaft remote from the suction membrane and a pivot lever of plastic including two legs each having a transverse opening receiving one of the ends of the transverse pin and a cam structure supported on the top side of the suction foot housing, the transverse openings of the legs of the pivot lever are in the form of dead end openings which are closed on the outside by a wall and each dead end opening is provided with a radially extending insert passage with a cross-section reduction so that the legs of the pivot lever can be snapped onto the ends of the transverse pin.

Abstract: In a safety arrangement for securely holding an apparatus supported on an apparatus holder which is mounted on a bicycle via a support socket and an apparatus holder disposed on the support socket, a mounting plate is provided which is fitted securely between the support socket and the apparatus holder and which is provided with a strap that extends from one side wall of the support plate around an apparatus disposed on the apparatus holder and is connected to a hook formed at the opposite side wall of the support plate for firmly holding the apparatus on the apparatus holder.

Abstract: In an apparatus support console comprising a pedestal having a foot, a support column extending from the foot and pivot joint structures supported on the column and carrying an apparatus or an apparatus holder, a telescopic member is longitudinally movably supported in the column and/or between the pivot joint structures so as to be extendable or insertable and the telescopic structure is provided with locking means for locking the telescopic member to permit secure positioning of the apparatus and locking it in any position convenient to a user of an apparatus supported by the support console.

Abstract: In an object carrier for supporting apparatus such as a minicomputer, a navigation apparatus or cell phones, which carrier comprises a foot adapted to be attached to a support surface, a top part for supporting an apparatus holder or directly an apparatus, and a flexible arm extending between the foot and the top part, the flexible arm is releasably connectable at least to the foot by a plug-in connection consisting of a receptacle part formed at least in the foot for receiving an end of the flexible arm in a rotationally fixed relationship and the plug-in connection further includes locking structure for firmly retaining, and releasably locking, the end of the flexible arm in the foot and respectively, top part.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a compact, inexpensive-to-manufacture device consisting of few components for optically testing a surface. The zone on the surface that is to be investigated is illuminated by a semitransparent mirror and an aspheric field mirror, employing a telecentric optical train, and at least part of the light reflected or scattered by the surface is imaged onto the entrance pupil of the lens of an electronic camera by the field mirror, via the semitransparent mirror. Images recorded by the camera are analyzed using known image-processing methods.

Abstract: In a mobile telephone/PDA holder (mechanism) having a hollow body with clamping jaws supported therein by guide legs which are disposed in the hollow body so as to be slidable in unison toward, and away from, one another under control of an operating mechanism including a coupling wheel rotatably supported in the hollow body and being coupled to the guide legs, and locking elements biased into engagement with the locking wheel, the locking wheel is provided with a circumferential layer of a resilient material and the locking elements are disposed adjacent the locking wheel and have saw-tooth like projection firmly engaging the resilient material layer and the locking wheel for preventing rotation thereof in one direction but permitting its rotation in the opposite direction and a release key connected to the locking element and extending from the hollow body for releasing the locking wheel.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a compact, inexpensive-to-manufacture, device of few components for optically inspecting a surface and a method for same employing the device. The section of the surface to be investigated is illuminated by a semitransparent mirror and a field lens, employing a telecentric beam path, and at least part of the light reflected or scattered by the surface is imaged onto the entrance pupil of the optics of an electronic camera by the field lens, via the semitransparent mirror. All optical and electronic components, along with a light- and dust-tight housing, are carried on a specially configured mounting block such that they are self-aligning. The method for inspecting a surface involves automatically recording a series of images of the surface under various types of illumination situations. Those images are assembled into an image of the entire section of the surface to be investigated and analyzed using known image-processing methods.

Abstract: In a modular holder for supporting an apparatus or instrument such as a minicomputer or a cell phone, comprising a support member with a support head and an apparatus holder supported thereby, an intermediate function box is releasably mounted with one side thereof by an engagement structure onto the support head and the apparatus holder is releasably mounted onto another side of the intermediate function box and the intermediate function box by an identical engagement structure so that the apparatus holder or an apparatus can be selectively monted directly onto the support head or via the function box.