Abstract: A lock assembly includes a lock and a flexible key. The lock includes a lock and an elongated plug unit having a longitudinal curved keyway that is accessible by the key. The keyway has several turns and several branch slots, each of which extends from one of the turns of the curved keyway in a direction different from that of a portion of the curved keyway succeeding the turn so as to mislead an undesirable flexible stick into the slot.

Abstract: A lock assembly has a lock body and a flexible key. The lock body includes at least two plug pieces having confronting faces with longitudinal curved grooves. The plug pieces cooperatively form a cylindrical plug. The curved grooves are complementary so as to form a longitudinal curved keyway with a cross-section that is shaped to have an upright first portion and a cross-wise second portion. A first set of tumbler members is provided on the cylindrical plug and extends in the direction of the upright first portion. A second set of tumbler members is provided on the cylindrical plug and extends in the direction of the cross-wise second portion. The flexible key is adapted to be received in the curved keyway and is useful for actuating the tumbler members. The flexible key includes a chain of successively hinged knuckles.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes a lock body having tumbler members and a curved keyway, and a flexible key to be received in the curved keyway and having key bit projections for actuating the tumbler members. The flexible key has a degree of stiffness sufficient enough to allow said key to be inserted into said curved keyway.

Abstract: A lockable gear shift lever comprising a lever member and a detachable handle section, the lever member having a rotatable key plug, a locking post, and a locking plate disposed adjacent to the lever member. The locking post is actuated by the rotatable key plug to engage and disengage from the locking plate to allow the lever member to be locked into a fixed position. The handle section is rotatably and detachably mounted to the top end of the lever member and includes a key extending downward which inserts into the key plug and is used to rotate the key plug relative to the lever member to lock and unlock the lever member relative to the locking plate. Thus, rotation of the handle locks and unlocks the gear shift lever. The handle also includes components to couple the handle and lever member together securely when used for normal driving operation, and includes a push button to facilitate movement of the lever between gear positions while shifting.

Abstract: A filter includes a front receiving dish, a rear receiving dish and several removably interconnected intermediate receiving dishes removably interconnecting the front and rear receiving dishes. Several filter units are respectively and removably mounted on the front and intermediate receiving dishes and accommodated in a water conduit unit. A water suction tube is communicated with the intake opening in the upper portion of the water conduit unit, while a drain tube is communicated with the drainage opening in the bottom of the water conduit unit at a level below the intake opening. A pump may be mounted on the front receiving dish so as to force water into the water conduit unit through the water suction tube.

Abstract: A fan includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades fixed on an end of a motor shaft. Each of the blades includes a series of radially interconnected oblique planes which are all inclined circumferentially of the motor shaft in a direction so as to press or suck fluid when the motor shaft rotates. The outer one of any adjacent two of the oblique planes extends radially outwardly from the inner adjacent plane toward the other end of the motor shaft at an angle of less than 90 degrees so that the blades are generally L-shaped. The outermost one of the oblique planes of each of the blades is generally parallel to the motor shaft. Thereby, fluid can be pressed or sucked axially and radially of the motor shaft to establish a generally semi-spherical fluid flow field.

Abstract: An automatic return hinge having a primary and a secondary hinge, the primary hinge being furnished with an axle rod with spiral grooves, three locating balls in an axle sleeve roll along the spiral grooves on the axle rod as the door is opened and closed.