Abstract: A connector capable of securing a cord to an outlet, of securing extension cords, and/or of securing an extension cord to the cord of a power tool. The device may have a female receptacle and a male plug, only a female receptacle, or only a male plug. The female receptacle may have a screw-style plunger, a sleeve-style plunger, or other means for applying pressure against the sleeves holding the prongs that are plugged into the receptacle. The male plug can use a sleeve-style plunger or other means to apply pressure against at least one of the prongs, causing the plug to be clamped into a receptacle. The female receptacle and male plug of the device can be separated by a cord to create an extension cord. The female receptacle or male plug could also be placed on the cords of a tool or appliance. A plurality of female receptacles could be used in a single unit to create a power strip having locking receptacles.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process. A plastic cover substantially envelops the striker plate to provide sound dampening and to further protect the vehicle door striker.

Abstract: A lightweight and compact headlamp adjuster is constructed primarily from plastic materials. The adjuster may include a VHAD that is non-recalibratable after the headlamp aim is factory set. The adjuster includes an input shaft that engages a gear located within a housing. When the input shaft is rotated, a ball stud moves linearly to adjust the headlamp to which it is connected. The adjuster is not subject to over-adjustment when it includes a clutching mechanism provided by the interaction of the ball stud with the gear.

Abstract: A sliding adjuster includes a base housing with a slide positioned at least partially therein. The base housing includes mounting tabs so that the adjuster can be secured to the back of a headlamp assembly support frame. The base housing includes channels along its sides in which rails extending from the slide are disposed. A ball stud extends from the slide, the ball of which is engaged in a reflector within the headlamp assembly such that axial movement of the ball stud causes movement of the reflector. Movement of the slide is caused by rotation of an adjustment screw that is threaded into the slide but held in axial position with respect to the base housing. The adjuster may include a vehicle headlamp aiming device (“VHAD”) if required for the particular application.

Abstract: A headlamp adjuster for adjusting the position of a reflector includes a base housing with a slide positioned at least partially therein. The base housing has mounting tabs so that the adjuster can be secured to the back of a headlamp assembly support frame. The base housing has channels along its sides in which rails extending from the slide are disposed. A ball stud extends from the slide, the ball of which engages the reflector within the headlamp assembly such that axial movement of the ball stud causes movement of the reflector. Movement of the slide is caused by rotation of an adjustment screw that is threaded into the slide but held in axial position with respect to the base housing. The adjuster may include a vehicle headlamp aiming device (“VHAD”) if required for the particular application.

Abstract: The connector is capable of securing a cord to an outlet, of securing extension cords, and/or of securing an extension cord to the cord of a power tool. The device may have a female receptacle and a male plug, only a female receptacle, or only a male plug. The female receptacle may have a screw-style plunger, a sleeve-style plunger, or other means for applying pressure against the sleeves holding the prongs that are plugged into the receptacle. The male plug can use a sleeve-style plunger or other means to apply pressure against at least one of the prongs, causing the plug to be clamped into a receptacle. The female receptacle and male plug of the device can be separated by a cord to create an extension cord. The female receptacle or male plug could also be placed on the cords of a tool or appliance. A plurality of female receptacles could be used in a single unit to create a power strip having locking receptacles.

Abstract: A ball socket for connection with a ball stud resists accidental pull-out of the ball stud. The ball socket includes arms that form a socket cup for retaining the ball stud. The arms allow relatively easy insertion of the stud head, yet greatly resist accidental pull-out. The ball socket may be used in connection with disengageable or conventional ball studs. The ball socket may be an in-line design, peanut-style, or some other design. One known effective application of the present invention is in automotive lamp assemblies. The in-line socket may include a centrally located mounting hole and an undercut which forms a chamber for trapping the head of a mounting screw to facilitate assembly to the reflector.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process. A plastic cover substantially envelops the striker plate to provide sound dampening and to further protect the vehicle door striker.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process. A plastic cover substantially envelops the striker plate to provide sound dampening and to further protect the vehicle door striker.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The striker bolt and threaded hole interface in an interference fit designed to maximize the failure point of the connection. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process.

Abstract: A headlamp adjuster includes a gear housing having a neck through which an input shaft extends in an interference fit. The interference fit provides a resistance to rotation of the input shaft. A drive gear is disposed within the gear housing and is connected to the input shaft such that rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the drive gear. An adjustment gear is disposed within the gear housing such that it intermeshes with the drive gear. The adjustment gear has a bore therethrough that is at least partially threaded. An adjustment shaft is threaded through the bore through the adjustment gear. The adjustment shaft may include a force-limiting feature to prevent over-adjustment of the adjuster.

Abstract: A pocket clip for an electronic component having an antenna or an antenna shroud. The pocket clip includes a mounting portion adapted to be fitted over the antenna and a finger portion extending from the mounting portion along the housing of the electronic component. In use, the finger cooperates with the housing to pinch or grip the pocket or other structure to which the phone is clipped. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting portion is frictionally fitted over the antenna such that it is easily mounted and removed.

Abstract: A disengageable pivot connection includes a ball stud that is capable of being selectively removed from the corresponding socket. The ball stud includes an engagement head that has substantially flat faces or grooves that correspond to tabs extending from the rim of the socket into which the ball stud is engaged. To install, the ball stud is inserted into the socket such that the substantially flat faces or grooves on the head pass by the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Then, the ball stud is rotated such that the head engages the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Alternatively, the head of the ball stud is snap-fitted into the socket as is conventional in the art. As such, the head cannot be removed from the socket without additional rotation. The head remains free to pivot within the socket as required for the particular application. One particularly desirable application of the present invention is in automotive lamp assemblies.

Abstract: A pivot connection includes a ball stud head that creates strong anti-rotation characteristics while retaining substantially full pivotability. The ball stud head includes a mid-section that grips the interior of the socket so as to resist rotation. The improved ball stud head is useful in connection with quarter turn style ball sockets and quarter turn headlamp adjusters.

Abstract: A disengageable pivot connection includes a ball stud that is capable of being selectively removed from the corresponding socket. The ball stud includes an engagement head that has substantially flat faces or grooves that correspond to tabs extending from the rim of the socket into which the ball stud is engaged. To install, the ball stud is inserted into the socket such that the substantially flat faces or grooves on the head pass by the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Then, the ball stud is rotated such that the head engages the tabs extending from the rim of the socket. Alternatively, the head of the ball stud is snap-fitted into the socket as is conventional in the art. As such, the head cannot be removed from the socket without additional rotation. The head remains free to pivot within the socket as required for the particular application. One particularly desirable application of the present invention is in automotive lamp assemblies.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The striker bolt and threaded hole interface in an interference fit designed to maximize the failure point of the connection. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process.

Abstract: A vehicle door striker is manufactured from a U-shaped striker plate and a striker bolt. The striker plate has a mounting plate connected to an arm by a support segment. The mounting plate has a striker bolt hole and two mounting bolt holes therethrough and the arm has a boss with a threaded hole therethrough. The striker bolt has a head and a threaded end with a shaft therebetween. The shaft is surrounded by a profiled plastic sleeve which serves to dampen sound and reduce wear. In assembling the vehicle door striker, the striker bolt is inserted through the striker bolt hole such that the head is fully recessed in the mounting plate and such that the threaded end is threaded into the threaded hole of the boss. The sleeve may be placed over the shaft of the striker bolt either before or during the assembly process. A plastic cover substantially envelops the striker plate to provide sound dampening and to further protect the vehicle door striker.

Abstract: Each horizontal adjuster mechanism used in connection with low beam headlamps must be either non-readjustable after the initial adjustment or equipped with a non-recalibratable vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) which is set to zero when the vehicle leaves the factory. Vehicle manufacturers must either aim the lamps and provide a non-recalibratable VHAD which is properly zeroed or aim the lamps and provide a mechanism to prevent future readjustment. A headlamp adjuster may be rendered non-readjustable after the headlamp has been aimed by snapping down a snap-socket, placing a covering cap over the drive shaft, closing a one-way lid on a drive shaft cover, or by otherwise preventing rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Each horizontal ad juster mechanism used in connection with low beam headlamps must be either non-readjustable after the initial adjustment or equipped with a non-recalibratable vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) which is zeroed when the vehicle leaves the factory. Vehicle manufacturers must either aim the lamps and provide a non-recalibratable VHAD which is properly zeroed or aim the lamps and provide a mechanism to prevent future readjustment. A headlamp adjuster is provided with a non-recalibratable VHAD dial which zeroed after the lamp has been properly aimed and which indicates any subsequent adjustments to the aim of the headlamps.

Abstract: An adjuster mechanism having an aiming device carried on the shaft of the ball stud. The adjuster mechanism includes a gear housing having a track for guiding the aiming device and an indicator for reading the position of the aiming device. The adjuster mechanism also includes a gland for sealing the headlamp housing. The gland is fitted over the shaft of the ball stud and is squeezed between the headlamp housing sealing bore and the ball stud shaft. The bearing surfaces of the gear housing and sealing bore are slanted to automatically center the ball stud. The adjuster mechanism further includes an anti-rotation insert seated within a cover. The insert engages a groove in the shaft of the ball stud to prevent rotation of the ball stud within the gear housing.