Abstract: A rack (10) for holding cookware (66) on a cooktop (13) has a support rod (12) which is mounted on the cooktop by rod support stands (14, 16), and a ring shaped support member (18, 60, 62, 64) for cookware removably connected to the support rod by clips (24,26). The ring shaped support member has a support leg (36) which is mounted on the cooktop and is connected to the ring shaped support member such that the ring shaped support member is held in an elevated position over a heating element (17) of the cooktop. The ring shaped support member defines an opening (34) through which a vessel portion of cookware may be located.

Abstract: An arrangement of cooperating cooktop devices includes a receiving device mounted to the bottom of cookware, and a support device extending above a heating element and adapted to be removably engaged with the receiving device so as to prevent displacement of the cookware from its supported position over the heating element. The support device is in the form of finger members (16, 18, 20, 22) spaced above a gas burner element (28) for engaging the receiving device. The receiving device is in the form of a bracket or plate (12) that defines channels (30, 32) through which the finger members can be slidably engaged.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for facilitating safer computer usage of individual users includes collecting data pertaining to user interactions with a cursor control device and a keyboard, and providing feedback to the user based on the collected data. The feedback concerns the usage of the computing device by the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for safety critical real time distributed engine control. Centralized hierarchical control architecture is replaced with an autonomous distributed network. Analog input/output signals are replaced with digitized data packets. Point-to-point wiring and data bus control are replaced with flexible virtual connections using digital switching technology. Fixed redundancy is replaced with variable redundancy.

Abstract: A gas generator to provide gases under pressure for an air bag. A combustion chamber and an auxiliary chamber contain a fluid gas-generating charge which is auto-ignitable. The combustion chamber has a burst portion which bursts after ignition, and the generated gases flow from it to the air bag. A conduit interconnects the two chambers. For a low pressure/high temperature regime the conduit acts as a flame suppressor to prevent flame from entering the auxiliary chamber so combustion can occur in the auxiliary chamber. For a high pressure/low temperature regime the conduit is a nozzle which passes the flame. Combustion then occurs in both of the chambers.

Abstract: A gas generator to provide gases under pressure to inflate a vehicular air bag. A capsular enclosure contains a fluid gas-generating charge. The enclosure has a non-pyrotechnic initiator, a frangible wall portion, and a chamber with a major portion of its volume on the other side of the frangible wall portion from the initiator. Various chamber and nozzle configurations provide for different initial pressures and temperatures, and times from maximum pressure or ambient pressure. Successive bursts are possible.

Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicular air bag. A capsular enclosure forms a reaction chamber with a wall having a frangible portion. An electrically-conductive, heat-generating initiator inside the chamber initiates a liquid gas-generating charge that is auto-ignitable by the initiator. Its reaction is self-sustaining after ignition. The gas generated bursts the frangible portion and supplies the air bag. The active components of the charge are nitrous oxide and oxygen.

Abstract: A conduit hanger includes an inverted U-shaped bracket having laterally spaced depending legs swingable supporting at their bottoms closure arms. The closure arms are swingably between a closed position extending toward each other and gravity urged toward such position and being urged upward under pressure to an open position providing bottom access between the bracket legs. One or both closure arms may be provided with openings proximate their inner ends and the other arms may be provided with depending legs for engaging a respective opening. In another form, a closure arm projects through an opening in one bracket leg toward the other and is pivotted at its outer end to the bottom of a link whose top is pivotted to the upper outer face of the bracket leg.

Abstract: A liquid-tight fitting is provided to connect generally non-compressible plastic conduit and electrical cable to a connection of some type. The fitting has a self-adjusting rigid plastic gland, which has a body portion with a relatively thin sleeve extending axially away from the body portion for encircling the conduit or cable. A nut threaded on the body of the fitting compresses the sleeve into sealing engagement with the conduit and fitting and to positively interconnect the conduit and connection to provide strain relief therewith.

Abstract: A vapor-proof connector on a metal electrical conduit includes an externally threaded tubular body engaging the end of the conduit and a gland nut spaced inwardly of and engaging the tubular body. The gland nut has an inwardly directed peripheral flange with a tapered inside face confronting a tapered end face of the body to delineate an annular space which surrounds the conduit and houses a channel-shaped split metal ring having inwardly directed diverging flanges and a wedge-shaped deformable gland ring arranged end to end so that tightening of the gland nut compresses the gland ring between the metal ring and the body or nut to radially compress the inside face of the gland ring and cause the split ring to bite and anchor to the conduit. Alternatively, the gland ring may be encircled by the split ring. The ends of the split ring may have opposing reduced width tongues extending therefrom.

Abstract: A closure or bushing member for openings in electrical boxes, conduit ends and the like is formed as an integral unit of a thermoplastic synthetic organic polymeric resin and includes a disc or annular shaped head and a coaxial hollow cylindrical shank of lesser diameter. Extending from opposite sides of the distal end of the shank are a pair of opposite radially projecting arms, which terminate in wing members of greater width than the radial arms and which have conically surfaced outer faces flaring rearwardly outwardly. A peripheral recess is formed in the rear outer face of each wing to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder for resiliently engaging the inside border of the opening to which the closure member is applied to retain the closure member therein.

Abstract: An electrical conduit grounding device includes a clamp formed of a pair of similarly shaped screw connected clamp sections each formed of a web including a crowned medial section terminating in coplanar wings and provided with longitudinal flanges. One of the clamp sections is provided with a cable clamp at the crown apex and which is stamped and shaped from the web, leaving corresponding openings therein, and includes first and second laterally spaced vertical arms atop the crowned section, a longer arm terminating in a horizontal leg projecting toward and above the top of the other arm. The leg has a tapped vertical bore engaged by a cable clamping screw.