Abstract: The invention comprises an improved nut for securing a propeller to a drive shaft of a vehicle engine. The invention further comprises a nut that may be securely fastened to the end of the drive shaft of a trolling motor engine without the use of separate tools, such as wrenches or drivers. The invention even further comprises a nut with an exterior portion and a shaft portion that communicates along an axis of the drive shaft of a marine engine against the propeller assembly, the shaft portion having elastomeric materials to interface with the propeller assembly and at least one channel which together absorb vibration, heat and sound from the propeller assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a propeller and an apparatus to modify a propeller that provide new propeller performance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the propeller includes two blade sets wherein the blades in the sets of distinct geometries from the blades in the corresponding set(s). In another preferred embodiment, a propeller hub ring extender is selectively secured to at least one propeller hub.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a carriage mounted on a guide. The carriage provides a transverse movement to a printhead. The carriage includes an upper carriage component adjacent to a rear support wall of the ink jet printer and a lower carriage component mounted to the upper carriage component. A slider is disposed between the upper carriage and the rear support wall. The slider includes a rigid substrate with a hole or an eyelet forming a hole. A pin secured to the carriage engages the hole and allows the slider to rotate up to 360 degrees around the pin. The slider includes a fabric with extended fibers secured to the substrate or directly to the carriage in order to resist static charge accumulations and lower friction.

Abstract: An ink drying apparatus for an ink jet printer includes an internal heating apparatus. The heating apparatus comprises gas flow restrictors for air that enters the heating apparatus. The gas flow restrictors may be formed as dual horizontal slots which are sized to maintain a higher air pressure in the heating apparatus as compared to the air pressure in a region within the ink drying apparatus that is outside of the heating apparatus.

Abstract: An ink drying apparatus for an ink jet printer includes an internal heating apparatus. The heating apparatus comprises gas flow restrictors for air that enters the heating apparatus. The gas flow restrictors may be formed as dual horizontal slots which are sized to maintain a higher air pressure in the heating apparatus as compared to the air pressure in a region within the ink drying apparatus that is outside of the heating apparatus.

Abstract: A movable load/unload parking apparatus for a disc drive has an elongated parking member pivotally supported adjacent a data storage disc or stack of discs in the drive. The parking member is operable to move between a first position during drive shutdown and a second position during drive operation. In the first position, a pickup portion of the parking member extends over a peripheral portion of the disc to receive and carry the transducer or transducers beyond the outer diameter of the disc when the actuator rotates the actuator arm outward to a park position. At the same time a crash stop portion of the parking member is repositioned away from the actuator arm to permit the outward rotation. In the second position, the pickup portion of the parking member is positioned beyond the outer diameter of the disc and the crash stop portion is positioned to prevent movement of the actuator arm beyond the outer diameter of the disc.

Abstract: A linear actuator for carrying a pair of read/write heads into engagement with a surface of a recording medium includes a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly may have a load beam upon which the read/write heads are mounted. A lift wing that is integrally formed with the actuator preferable extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing extends from the sides of the actuator and not the end of the actuator where the read/write heads are preferably mounted. The integral lift wing may have a first portion that extends from one side of the actuator, and a second portion that extends from the other side of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing does not have a portion which extends beneath or over the width of the load beam portion of the actuator. This lift wing preferably interfaces with a load ramp of the disk drive to position the read/write heads proximal to the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading heads from a removable cartridge disk drive. The apparatus comprises a scissoring load ramp that has a pair of pivoting arms. Each arm has a ramped end that pivots between and open and a closed position. In the open position, the ramped ends pivot away from each other and away from the surface of the media providing sufficient space for media to fluctuate during insertion and ejection from the drive. In the closed position, the ramped ends move toward each other and the media to provide a mechanism for loading and unloading the heads to and from the media.

Abstract: A crush resistant cartridge case comprises a case shell having left and right halves. Each halve of the case shell contains a rigid insert having a flat portion with a rib extending substantially around the perimeter of the flat portion. The rigid inserts in the left and right halves of the case shell come together when the case shell is closed and provide resistance against crushing.

Abstract: A disk cartridge has a projection on an inner surface thereof. The projection is located proximate the head access opening to prevent medium distortion during cartridge insertion. The cartridge is designed for insertion into a drive in which the medium is mounted by translating the medium within the cartridge away from a spindle access opening in the cartridge. The translation of the medium can cause the medium to twist thereby distorting the peripheral edge of the medium. The projection on the inner surface of the cartridge inhibits the medium distortion.

Abstract: A disk drive conducts signals between read/write heads of a rotor assembly and an electrical circuit board and supplies power to an actuator coil. The disk drive comprises a rotor assembly, a magnetic motor having an actuator coil for rotating the rotor assembly and heads into and out of engagement with a rotating storage medium, an electrical circuit board for supplying electrical signals to the heads and for receiving electrical signals from the heads, and a dual-lead flex circuit for conducting signals between the heads and the electrical circuit board and for supplying power to the actuator coil. The rotor assembly comprises a first extension, a second extension, and a pivot, while the heads are mounted on the rotor assembly. The flex circuit has a static portion from which a first lead and a second lead emanate.

Abstract: A seal is coupled to a movable member in a disk drive for sealing an opening in a chassis over which the movable member passes. The seal comprises a first layer of foam attached to the movable member, and a second layer of low-friction plastic attached to the layer of foam. The foam layer presses the plastic layer against the chassis to seal the opening as the plastic layer slides over a surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A crush resistant cartridge case comprises a case shell having left and right halves. Each halve of the case shell contains a rigid insert having a flat portion with a rib extending substantially around the perimeter of the flat portion. The rigid inserts in the left and right halves of the case shell come together when the case shell is closed and provide resistance against crushing.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive heads are loaded and unloaded onto the magnetic disk by wings attached in close proximity to the magnetic heads. The wings ride on opposed profiles to separate the heads so that they can travel on either side of the disk and the heads are then brought together properly onto the disk. As the heads are withdrawn from the disk, they are separated by the opposed profiles and then the heads are parked on a cleaning pad.

Abstract: A voice coil actuator return path and a slotted flex circuit member for a linear actuator of a disk drive, which together accurately and precisely position the center guide track, and align the mass and forces of the electrical circuit on the carriage are disclosed. The outer return path is precisely formed from laminations of low carbon steel. The outer return path supports and accurately positions a central guide track, on which a carriage assembly slides. Moreover, the outer return path is oriented in a rectangle that is coupled to a disk drive platform, and includes an aperture through which a portion of the carriage assembly passes.A flex circuit member, which electrically communicates with the read/write heads, includes a slot that enables the central guide track to pass though. The slot enables the flex circuit member to be connected to the carriage assembly near a center axis of the carriage.