Abstract: An interconnection element for coupling a component with a circuit board having a top side and a bottom side has a planar portion configured to be surface mounted on the top side of the circuit board to overlie an opening in the circuit board. An opening is formed in the planar portion to coincide with the circuit board opening. Opposing spring fingers are coupled to the planar portion, and each spring finger has a gripping leg extending downwardly toward the planar portion. The gripping legs are positioned on opposite sides of the opening in the planar portion and extend through the opening in the planar portion to extend into the board opening and capture a component lead that extends in the board opening from the bottom side of the circuit board.

Abstract: This invention deals with a sink having a flange can be flush mounted in a countertop where the countertop is made of a laminate upper layer supported by a wood based body such as particle board. The countertop is readied for sink mounting by ploughing out a sink channel in the supporting body of the countertop. The sink channel is filled with a hardenable plastic such as an epoxy. The upper surface of the epoxy and the laminate is machined such as by a router to create a rabbet to accommodate the flange of the sink. The sink channel is arranged so that the hardened epoxy extends under the laminate so that any water which passes under the flange of the sink will contact the epoxy and not the wood based structure. A faucet having holes to accommodate hot water, cold water, spigot and faucet accessories can be mounted using the same channel and epoxy system.

Abstract: A method for providing a mechanical/electrical interconnection between two circuit boards, and the interconnection components required therefore, include a pin and socket each having a tail portion, a shoulder portion and a head portion. The tail portion of the pin is sized so as to fit into a plated through hole of the first board, the head portion is sized so as to allow an automated device to capture the head portion and to rest on top of the plated through hole when inserted therein, and the shoulder portion is sized in relation to the plated through hole so as to rest inside the plated through hole and to allow a predetermined amount of solder to flow under the head portion and down into the plated through hole, but not as far down as the tail portion, thereby assisting in centering the pin in the through hole.

Abstract: A method for providing a mechanical/electrical interconnection between two circuit boards, and the interconnection components required therefore, include a pin and socket each having a tail portion, a shoulder portion and a head portion. The tail portion of the pin is sized so as to fit into a plated through hole of the first board, the head portion is sized so as to allow an automated device to capture the head portion and to rest on top of the plated through hole when inserted therein, and the shoulder portion is sized in relation to the plated through hole so as to rest inside the plated through hole and to allow a predetermined amount of solder to flow under the head portion and down into the plated through hole, but not as far down as the tail portion, thereby assisting in centering the pin in the through hole.

Abstract: A machine is provided for customizing a cosmetic product at point of sale to a customer. The dispensing machine of the invention includes a mechanism for receiving operating instructions about a customer's optimal formula; a series of dispensers each containing a different cosmetic composition; a mechanism for activating dosing to a common dosing chamber of certain of the cosmetic compositions and at certain concentrations as determined by the operating instructions; and a mechanism for delivering the dosed formula into a container to the customer as a cosmetic product. Other advantageous features include a temperature regulation system, dual pumps of different capacity for obtaining highly accurate dosing, a bar code labeling system, and a telemodem for remote reporting of machine failure, empty dispensers and customer information.