Abstract: A pipe connector comprising tubular pin member having an outer peripheral surface and a tubular box member having an inner peripheral surface corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the pin member and which overlies the outer surface of the pin member when the members are fully engaged together, the members being provided with inter engaging projections and grooves on said peripheral surfaces for axially locking the members together when they are fully engaged together, the pin member further comprising an annular collar shrink fitted onto the pin member above of the peripheral outer surface, the collar comprising a shoulder at one end of the collar adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the pin member, the arrangement being such that when the members are fully engaged together, the tubular box member abuts the shoulder of the annular collar.

Abstract: A pipe connector comprises a tubular pin member having a frustoconical outer surface and a tubular box member having a frustoconical inner surface corresponding to the outer surface of the pin member and which overlies the frustoconical surface of the pin member when the members are fully engaged. The members are provided with inter-engageable annular projections and grooves on the said peripheral surfaces for axially locking the members together when they are fully engaged together. The projections and grooves are spaced apart along the surfaces. The inner tubular surface of the pin member and an outer tubular surface of the box member each include at least one of a recess and/or a protrusion/radially enlarged section which reduces and/or increases the thickness of the tubular wall along the length of the associated member so as to balance the displacement of the members at different points along the length thereof under injection pressure.

Abstract: A pipe connector comprises a tubular pin member (1) having a frustoconical outer surface (3) and a tubular box member (2) having a frustoconical inner surface (4) corresponding to the outer surface (3) of the pin member (1) and which overlies the frustoconical surface (3) of the pin member (1) when the members (1, 2) are fully engaged. The members (1, 2) are provided with inter-engageable annular projections (5) and grooves (6) on the said peripheral surfaces (3, 4) for axially locking the members together when they are fully engaged together. The projections (5) and grooves (6) are spaced apart along the surfaces (3, 4).

Abstract: A method for verifying the authenticity of an object, e.g. a bank note or a cheque, is described. The object is provided with a primary identifier in the form of a plurality of identification elements embedded in the object. The identification elements are visually detectable when illuminated by infrared or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation but are visually indistinguishable from the rest of the object when illuminated with visible light. The object has a reference point in the form of a printed symbol defining an area of the object in which at least some of the identification elements are provided. The method includes the step of identifying a sub-area of the object defined by the reference point, and recording information relating to the positions of the identification elements in the sub-area relative to the reference point. A detector that can be used to carry out this method is also described.

Abstract: A method of distributing telephone and/or telephone subscriber status/availability information comprises receiving information at a relay centre from each of a multiplicity of status/availability terminals. This information corresponds to the status/availability of a telephone and/or telephone subscriber and/or telephone line associated with the sending status/availability terminal. Information received at the relay centre from each sending status/availability terminal is immediately relayed to a group of other status/availability terminals associated with the sending terminal. At each receiving status/availability terminal, the received status/availability information is displayed on a display of the terminal to advise the subscriber of the current status/availability of other subscribers in which he is interested.

Abstract: A method of distributing telephone and/or telephone subscriber status/availability information comprises receiving information at a relay centre from each of a multiplicity of status/availability terminals. This information corresponds to the status/availability of a telephone and/or telephone subscriber and/or telephone line associated with the sending status/availability terminal. Information received at the relay centre from each sending status/availability terminal is immediately relayed to a group of other status/availability terminals associated with the sending terminal. At each receiving status/availability terminal, the received status/availability information is displayed on a display of the terminal to advise the subscriber of the current status/availability of other subscribers in which he is interested.

Abstract: A pipe connector comprising a tubular pin member (1) having an outer generally frusto-conical surface and a tubular box member (2) having an inner surface corresponding to the surface of the pin member which overlies the surface of the pin member when the members are fully engaged. The central portions (3a,4a) of the frusto-conical surfaces are provided with complementary inter-engaging formations (5,6) and end portions (3b,3c,4b,4c), which are generally spaced apart, have abutting annular rings (20,21) to transfer hoop stresses caused by a pressure difference across the walls of the connector. Following wear of the connector (1,2) the rib also serves to reduce the material removed from the or each member when it is re-cut.