Abstract: A ball socket for connection with a ball stud resists accidental pull-out of the ball stud. The ball socket achieves relatively low insertion force but relatively high pull-out force resistance.

Abstract: A clutching adjuster having a housing with a nose, the nose including a plurality of discrete helically-shaped thread segments, a ball stud journaled by a ball stud bore for axial movement therethrough and passing through the nose of the housing, the ball stud having a threaded portion, an unthreaded portion, a ball, and a drive spline portion, an outbound annular travel barrier and an inbound annular travel barrier, wherein, in length of travel clutching operation and end of travel clutching operation where the ball stud is axially rotated through the ball stud bore, the receipt of an undue axial force of resistance on the ball stud results in outward deflection of engaged thread segments, thereby allowing the threaded engagement between the threaded portion of the ball stud and the thread segments to clutch.

Abstract: An adjuster mechanism that includes an adjustment gear, a housing with a radial lip, and a ball stud having stud teeth and a threaded portion threadingly engaged with the lip to retract and extend the ball stud relative to the lip during rotation of the ball stud. The gear having a gear body situated at least partially inside the housing and having splines for engaging the stud teeth to rotate the ball stud during rotation of the gear. Recessed inward relative to a gear body outer surface is a clutch tab that extends from a recessed side wall to form a side hinge. A stop wall on the clutch tab is engageable with the stud teeth when rotating the gear body in a first direction or second direction and disengageable from the stud teeth when rotating the gear body in the other of the first direction or second direction.

Abstract: A ball socket for connection with a ball stud resists accidental pull-out of the ball stud. The ball socket achieves relatively low insertion force but relatively high pull-out force resistance.

Abstract: A clutching adjuster having a housing with a nose, the nose including a plurality of discrete helically-shaped thread segments, a ball stud journaled by a ball stud bore for axial movement therethrough and passing through the nose of the housing, the ball stud having a threaded portion, an unthreaded portion, a ball, and a drive spline portion, an outbound annular travel barrier and an inbound annular travel barrier, wherein, in length of travel clutching operation and end of travel clutching operation where the ball stud is axially rotated through the ball stud bore, the receipt of an undue axial force of resistance on the ball stud results in outward deflection of engaged thread segments, thereby allowing the threaded engagement between the threaded portion of the ball stud and the thread segments to clutch.

Abstract: A synchronized lamp adjuster assembly allows for adjustment of vehicle lamp assemblies that can be adjusted synchronously or by using the same adjuster assembly. Two or more adjuster assemblies are connected together by at least one shaft drive assembly having a shaft drive head that interacts with an input shaft for the adjuster assemblies. Rotation of the shaft drive head causes rotation of input shaft and adjuster assembly thus causing adjustment of the lamp assemblies.

Abstract: A synchronized lamp adjuster assembly allows for adjustment of vehicle lamp assemblies that can be adjusted synchronously or by using the same adjuster assembly. Two or more adjuster assemblies are connected together by at least one shaft drive assembly having a shaft drive head that interacts with an input shaft for the adjuster assemblies. Rotation of the shaft drive head causes rotation of input shaft and adjuster assembly thus causing adjustment of the lamp assemblies.

Abstract: A self-clinching fastener for insertion into ductile sheets of varying thicknesses has increased push-out and torque-out resistance. The self-clinching fastener includes a plurality of radial projections and spline teeth that embed into the ductile sheets, causing the material to cold flow into a recess, thereby permanently clinching the self-clinching fastener to the ductile sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight assembly includes a plurality of snap wedge assemblies with at least one of the snap wedge assemblies including a ball stud configured for engagement with a light module and an insert coupled with the ball stud, the insert including a plurality of wedges and a plurality of snap fingers. The assembly further includes a plurality of carrier receptacles for matingly receiving and securing the snap wedge assemblies.

Abstract: An earphone or adapter for attaching to an earphone includes an ear portion including a tubular sidewall. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall. The air channel redirects sound at an angle to the speaker axis, and may have a smooth contour to maintain sound quality. In one embodiment, the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. The outer surface of the tubular portion may include a plurality of outwardly extending fins In one embodiment, the tubular portion includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel.

Abstract: An injection molding machine with an injection system and a clamping system. The injection system may include a removable injection module defining a portion of the material flow path. The injection module may include all of parts that come in contact with the material between the material source and the mold. The injection module may include a valve arrangement movable between a fill position to load the injection module with material and an inject position to eject material from the injection module into the mold. The actuators for the injection module may be supported on the machine rather than the injection module. The clamping system may include a platen linear actuator to open and close the mold, and a hydraulic clamping system to apply clamping force to the closed mold. The hydraulic clamping system may include a free-float valve manifold assembly that selectively places the hydraulic cylinders in free-float mode.

Abstract: A variable rate friction damper has variable torque dampening resistance without the use of oil. The variable rate friction damper uses interference friction to generate variable torque dampening resistance depending on the rotational position of the damper.

Abstract: A ball socket for connection with a ball stud resists accidental pull-out of the ball stud. The ball socket achieves relatively low insertion force but relatively high pull-out force resistance.

Abstract: A ball socket for connection with a ball stud resists accidental pull-out of the ball stud. The ball socket achieves relatively tow insertion force but relatively high pull-out force resistance.

Abstract: A self-clinching fastener for insertion into ductile sheets of varying thicknesses has increased push-out and torque-out resistance. The self-clinching fastener includes a plurality of radial projections and spline teeth that embed into the ductile sheets, causing the material to cold flow into a recess, thereby permanently clinching the self-clinching fastener to the ductile sheet.

Abstract: A self-clinching fastener for insertion into ductile sheets of varying thicknesses has increased push-out and torque-out resistance. The self-clinching fastener includes a plurality of radial projections and spline teeth that embed into the ductile sheets, causing the material to cold flow into a recess, thereby permanently clinching the self-clinching fastener to the ductile sheet.

Abstract: An earphone or adapter for attaching to an earphone includes an ear portion including a tubular sidewall. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall. The air channel redirects sound at an angle to the speaker axis, and may have a smooth contour to maintain sound quality. In one embodiment, the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. The outer surface of the tubular portion may include a plurality of outwardly extending fins In one embodiment, the tubular portion includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel.

Abstract: A synchronized lamp adjuster assembly allows for adjustment of vehicle lamp assemblies that can be adjusted synchronously or by using the same adjuster assembly. Two or more adjuster assemblies are connected together by at least one shaft drive assembly having a shaft drive head that interacts with an input shaft for the adjuster assemblies. Rotation of the shaft drive head causes rotation of input shaft and adjuster assembly thus causing adjustment of the lamp assemblies.

Abstract: An adapter for attaching to an earphone includes a sleeve capable attaching the adapter to the earphone and an ear portion including a tubular sidewall having a first end attached to the sleeve and a second end opposite the first end. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an outer surface and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the outer surface. In another embodiment, the tubular sidewall has an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall, and the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. In one embodiment, the adapter includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel.