Abstract: A closure system for use in repetitively opening and sealing closing an openable end of a pliable container includes at least one bowed band which is connected to the container, as well as at least one closure member. In certain preferred embodiments, bands are connected to opposing side walls of the container, with the bands being interconnected by the closure member. When the container assumes an open condition, the bands are generally located in offset planes and, when the container is in a closed condition, the bands nest with at least one side wall portion of the container being located between the bands. The closure member has spring characteristics which tend to bias the bands together when the closed condition is selected, yet permits the container to be readily maintained in the open condition when desired. In other preferred embodiments, a closure member which tends to coil up is utilized to establish the closed condition.

Abstract: A bearing unit includes a housing provided with a cylindrical bore and a linear bearing positioned within the cylindrical bore. The linear bearing includes a cage in which are arranged a plurality of endless ball rows each defined by a longitudinally extending ball track for load-bearing balls, a longitudinally extending return track for non-load-bearing balls, and deflection tracks connecting ends of the longitudinally extending ball track and the longitudinally extending return track. Each longitudinally extending ball track opens radially outwardly with a track plate being arranged to cover the longitudinally extending ball track for the load-bearing balls. The cylindrical bore of the housing is provided with a plurality of recesses each located in an area of the cylindrical bore facing one axial end of one of the track plates to permit radial deflection of the one axial end of the track plate.

Abstract: A bearing has a composite elastic member, which supports a shaft. The composite elastic member comprises an elastic cylinder, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is provided at a bearing body section; and a spiral member, which projects from the circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder and is spirally assembled on the elastic cylinder. A lubricant is supplied to a spiral gap, which is divisionally formed between threads of the wire material forming the spiral member. When the shaft rotates, leakage of the lubricant is prevented by pumping operation and leakage of a fluid is prevented.

Abstract: A bearing unit with tone wheel includes a first seal member made from a metal plate having an elastic member, and a second seal member provided outside the first seal member and placed in sliding contact with the elastic member. The tone wheel is attached to the outside face of the second seal member.

Abstract: A rotary bearing assembly (10) for a motor vehicle water pump employs a spindle (11) with a central region (14) surrounded by an outer bearing ring (15). The ring (15) and spindle central region (14) have axially spaced complementary raceways (16, 17) on their confronting surfaces in angular contact with sets of balls (18). The spindle central region (14) adjoins one end region (12) with the same diameter as the central region and an opposite end region (13) of smaller diameter. The end region (12) is driven by a belt-and-pulley of the vehicle engine while the smaller end region (13) drives an impeller of the water pump. The set of balls (18) adjacent the driven end region (12) has a full complement of balls (18) in mutual contact while the smaller diameter end region (13) has the balls spaced apart with a cage (22).

Abstract: An alignment adapter for use with a multi-fiber, optical connector that is in the form of a substantially planar slab having a central opening for receiving a connector therethrough. The slab includes a pair of alignment apertures on opposing sides of the central opening that are positioned in a defined spatial relationship with the fibers held in the multi-fiber connector. According to an aspect of the invention, the alignment adapter includes a pair of alignment rods held in the alignment apertures that are used to convert an optical connector into a male type connector. According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector is disclosed having a plurality of channels for holding optical fibers and a pair of alignment apertures positioned adjacent to the fiber holding channels in a defined spatial relationship.

Abstract: The optical fiber positioning device (21) of the present invention is provided with: an optical connector main body (10) for supporting an optical fiber (3) which passes therethrough; a ferrule (2), which is provided coaxially with the optical fiber at the lead end side of the optical connector main body and through which the optical fiber passes; and a nut (9) which is disposed outside this ferrule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of aligning a collimator assembly requiring only a single-axis adjustment and for which the collimator may be paired with any other similarly aligned collimator. A collimator typically includes a fiber grasped by a ferrule. Both the ferrule and a graded-index (GRIN) lens are eventually bonded to the inside of a glass tube with the fiber/lens distance fixed for optimum collimator performance. According to one method of practicing the invention, the tube/lens assembly is fixed, and the ferrule/fiber is slidably inserted into the tube. The position of the ferrule/fiber is adjusted within the tube while the size of the resultant beam is measured at a fixed distance from the output from the lens. If there are two such positions producing the optimum beam size, the position of less separation between the ferrule and fiber is chosen.

Abstract: The number of scans of a printing head is controlled so that printing is completed by a smaller number of scans than the predetermined number of scans on printing regions by the first and last scans upon printing on the printing medium by the printing head. In a facsimile apparatus having the printing apparatus, additional information generated by an internal character generator of the facsimile apparatus is transferred to be printed in the first or last scan of the printing head upon outputting the received image data, so that printing is completed by a smaller number of scans than the predetermined number of scans.

Abstract: Flash ROMs store a control program for controlling an internal combustion engine and a boot program for rewriting the flash ROMs in respective storage areas. A user breakable object area is set appropriately to the flash ROMs by a user breakable function of a UBC which a microcomputer has in an ECU. Thus, even when a reading command or a writing command is issued to predetermined addresses in the user breakable object area of the flash ROMs, the processing jumps to a predetermined other address without changing the stored therein. Therefore, a request of writing to the boot program storage area of the flash ROMs, which arises from some abnormality, can be eliminated.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing exposed photosensitive elements comprising: a cylindrical container having an open end and having a plurality of circumferentially disposed containment vessels for containing processing fluids; an index plate which is rotatably mounted on the container at the open end; a holder for holding an exposed photosensitive element; support structure for mounting the holder on the index plate for movement downwardly and upwardly; and a member on the index plate for manually rotating the plate to sequentially align the holder with the plurality of containment vessels so that at each vessel the holder is manually moved downwardly to submerge the photosensitive element in the processing fluid contained in the vessel and then moved upwardly to remove the element from the fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a tape printing apparatus for printing desired character string data on a tapelike printing object, in which a plurality of functions can be set with a single physical operator. When a character size setting function key is operated (S14), the position of a cursor existing on a display screen is detected. The character size is set over the whole sentence (S24) if the cursor is positioned on the right side of a line head mark, set by paragraph (S23) if the cursor is positioned at the head of the first line of each paragraph, and set by line (S22) if the cursor is positioned on the right side of the head of a line of each paragraph. In other cases, the size of characters from the cursor on is set or the character size is set word by word (S20, 21).

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises two parallel and adjacent print engines (1a, 1b), with each engine comprising a platen roller (4), a donor ribbon extending from a supply spool (10a, 10b) to a take-up spool (11a, 11b), and receiver supply rolls (5a, 5b) to hold a supply of receiver sheet. Drive means (11a, 11b; 26a, 26b) transport the donor ribbon and receiver sheet through the engine during printing independently from the drive means of the other engine. A printhead (3) has a row of heaters extending across both engines, with a first set (3a) of heaters positioned to operate with the first engine (1a) and a second set (3b) of heaters positioned to operate with the second engine (1b). Control means coordinate activation of the engines selectively with application of the image signal to the heater set which is operable with that selected engine. Both engines can be operated independently, enabling the printer to be set up for independent or dual printing.

Abstract: In an electronic picture print system that is activated in response to the deposit of money and provides a printing service in accordance with the control of a user, a printer starts feeding paper upon detection of the deposit of money. While the user is selecting a background frame and taking a picture, the preparations for printing are completed. Therefore, the printing is started immediately in response to a printing instruction, and this reduces the time required for one play.

Abstract: A holder for embossing a card which permits manipulation of the card and shields the user's hand from heat employed during the process of embossing. A heat-resistant clip has a first side with a straight tip and a second side with the tip curving away from the straight tip to facilitate the introduction, manipulation, and extraction of a paper card without damaging such card. A spring force retains the card in the clip and permits the clip to adjust to cards of different thicknesses. The base of the clip is attached to a handle which, to protect the hand of the user from heat applied near the clip during the process of embossing, has a low thermal conductivity and is of sufficient length to preclude the user's hand from being in the flow of heat that is applied near the clip. And, to facilitate manipulating the handle with a single hand, the handle has a circular cross section.

Abstract: A printer including a print engine capable of printing images onto both the front surface and the backside surface of each recording paper. The printer operates as described below while counting, with the copy counter, the number of printed copies. The odd-numbered copy is printed on the front surfaces of the papers form the first page to the last page in this order and is discharged facing downwardly. The even-numbered copy is printed on the backside surfaces of the papers from the last page to the first page in this order an discharged facing upwardly. Accordingly, in the printed matter finally stacked on the discharge tray, the printed sheets are stacked so that the surfaces, on which images are printed, are alternated in the respective copies. In each copy, printed sheets are arranged properly from the first page to the last page in order.

Abstract: According to the thermal transfer printer, a plurality of cassette holder plates each for holding ribbon cassettes stacked in plural stages are arranged side by side on a holding cover on the side opposed to a carriage, a fixed holding arm for holding the ribbon cassettes and a movable holding arm for pressing the ribbon cassettes toward the fixed holding arm are disposed respectively on both sides of each cassette holder plate of the holding cover, holding guides are erected on the holding cover at positions corresponding to ribbon cores of the ribbon cassettes in such a manner as to extend through the cassette holder plate, and a holding arm for holding the peripheral edge portion of one ribbon core of each ribbon cassette is formed integrally with one holding guide, while ribs for engagement with the other ribbon core of the ribbon cassette are formed on the other holding guide.

Abstract: A color printing apparatus is provided for realizing highly attractive print images and high speed color printing with a relatively simple position control. The color printing apparatus comprises a printer unit for printing a color print image composed of a dot matrix on a printing medium, a feeder unit for feeding the printing medium, a reciprocal moving mechanism for reciprocally moving the printer unit in directions orthogonal to a direction in which the printing medium is fed, and a controller for instructing the printer unit to perform printing in a plurality of colors to each dot of the color print image so as to selectively conduct uni-directional printing and/or bi-directional printing in the reciprocal movements of the printer unit. The controller instructs the printer unit to conduct the uni-directional printing for a high contrast color with respect to a background color of the printing medium within the plurality of colors, and to conduct the bi-directional printing for the remaining colors.

Abstract: At an end of a bottom board 21 of an upper case 19 holding a thin keyboard switch 16, a substantially large opening 22 that allows a connector sheet 17 drawn from a rear end of the keyboard switch to pass through with a sufficient margin is provided, the connector sheet 17 is provided with at least one hole 18 at the middle part in the width direction, and a protrusion 23 is provided protruding from a frame portion 20 of the upper case as the constituent part towards the opening 22, which protrusion penetrating through the hole 18 of connector sheet 17, as it is being folded down forward, for supporting a baseboard 5 from the bottom surface. With the above described structure, the fabricating operation for connecting the connector sheet 17 can be accomplished easier and surer.

Abstract: The case keyboard is an input device that folds around an electronic instrument to protect it and provide ease of transport. Because of its small size and portability, the case keyboard is very practical for providing instructions to electronic instruments that are small in themselves, enabling both devices to be easily transported. The electronic instrument could be a personal digital assistant (PDA), small computer, calculator, telephone, or other portable machines. The first embodiment of the case keyboard has a standard set of keys on a substrate. The second embodiment uses a touch-pad switch to multiplex the character designation of a small set of keys and a gently motion of the thumb. The multiplexing reduces the number of keys while still providing designation of about 160 characters. Shorter finger-motions reduce the probability of repetitive stress injuries. A third embodiment incorporates the entire instrument into a case keyboard with a pop-up viewing screen flexibly attached.

Abstract: A transfer printing station is provided which has two pairs of tractor drives movably arranged side-by-side on two drive shafts. During operation with only a single paper web, the unused tractor drives can be moved to a lateral parking position. The two pairs of tractor drives can be easily moved to match two different webs of paper of different widths. The structure enables a user to adapt the paper conveyor of a transfer printing station to operate with only a single paper web or two parallel webs.

Abstract: A sheet transport system has an encoder roller in direct contact with the sheet media and driven by the sheet media to detect and compensate for any registration error particularly at lead and trail edges during transport of the sheet media as media enters and exits transport nips. The invention is well suited for use in controlling and monitoring paper movement in incremental advance and print systems, such as ink jet printers. A biasing member ensures that the sheet media and encoder roller are in intimate contact. Preferably, a material with a high coefficient of friction is provided on an outer periphery of the encoder roller to assist in mating of the roller with the sheet media.

Abstract: A wiper unit for a cosmetics applicator is provided with resilient fingers at an obtuse angle to the axis of its orifice, and occupying at most 50% of the orifice area.

Abstract: A dispensing device is detachably mountable atop a plurality of valved containers containing constituents under pressure which are dispensed upon actuation of the container valves. The dispensing device comprises a mixing chamber for mixing together the constituents dispensed from the containers to form a mixed product and for outputting the mixed product through plural outlet ports, an applicator having a plurality of tines at least some of which are hollow, the hollow tines being in fluid communication with respective outlet ports of the mixing chamber for dispensing from distal ends thereof the mixed product, and an actuator for simultaneously actuating the container valves. The mixing chamber has an inlet port for admitting the constituents dispensed from the containers into the mixing chamber, and an elongated tortuous flow path having one end communicating with the inlet port and another end communicating with the plural outlet ports.

Abstract: A ballpoint pen in which ink is freely received in the shaft of the ballpoint pen or is received in a cartridge includes a supply wick, a compensating body and a writing tip with a ball, wherein the ball is fastened and rotatably mounted in a tube, and wherein the tube has a continuous ink duct. The ink duct of the ballpoint pen is constructed as a free throughbore and does not have any additional core bodies or ink conductors, and the supply wick extends axially completely through the compensating body in the area of the compensating chambers formed in the compensating body.

Abstract: The pliable, readily flattenable loop binder for retaining loose-leaf sheets has a mounting strip with an elongated spine, an adhesive on the back of the spine, and a removable liner over the adhesive. Paired transversely aligned loop-forming elements project outward from opposing longitudinal edges of the spine. Off one edge are pliable and readily bendable straps. Off the other edge are strap receivers. The strap of a pair is threaded through a punched hole of punched paper and drawn over the spine and then threaded through its receiver so that the back surface of the strap faces the back surface of the receiver. Each loop formed by a pair of loop-forming elements is teardrop in contour and is flattenable toward the front surface of the spine with a single folded bend in said strap. Locking structures on straps engage the receivers to resist shifting of straps in their receivers.

Abstract: A ring binder notebook is described which utilizes readily openable and closable snap rings and one or more covers that, unlike standard ring binder notebooks, are not restricted to either a closed (0°) or a half-open (180°) position—but may be fully opened (360°) back to front. This flexibility, previously possible only with standard spiral bound notebooks, is now achieved while still retaining the ability to readily add, remove, or rearrange the contents of the notebook. A notebook ring assembly is also described. The ring assembly has a shell, a pair of back plates, and one or more sets of longitudinally aligned binder ring members. Each binder ring member attached to the first back plate is transversely aligned with an opposing binder ring member attached to the second back plate. Each binder ring member attached to the first back plate is attached so that it extends away from the upper surface of the first back plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ring binder adapted to be secured to a cover, the ring binder including an upper plate with a longitudinal axis; a pair of elongate plates supported by the upper plate; a number of ring members mounted to the elongate plates; and two rivets for securing the ring binder to the cover, in which each of the rivets includes a cylindrical body in direct engagement with the upper plate for attaching the rivet to the upper plate and an abutment plate adapted to abut the cover when the ring binder is secured to the cover; and a number of claws for securing the ring binder to the cover, in which the abutment plate includes a major surface, and the abutment plate includes at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from the major surface.

Abstract: A portfolio for holding items such as sheets of paper is constructed a single sheet of translucent material having a scored line to act as a hinge and divided the material into front and back covers. The portfolio is provided with at least three pockets constructed of transparent material welded onto the portfolio. Two of the pockets are provided on the interior of the front and back covers for retaining sheets of paper, and a third pocket is provided on the exterior surface of the front cover for holding a sheet of material such as a cover label. The pockets may be provided with cutouts to allow expansion of the pockets and stress relief structures to prevent tearing of the pockets upon repeated insertion and removal of items from the pockets. The portfolio also includes a plurality of holes for attachment in a ringed binder and slits running from the holes to the hinge to permit insertion of the portfolio into the binder without opening the rings.

Abstract: A device for use with a hinge in which two rigid elements (104, 105) may be placed in various relative angular positions, wherein the elongate part (109) to be protected and guided consists of a section or tube inserted through two mutually facing channels (111, 110) in respective ones of the rigid elements (104, 105). The device includes a movable member (107) arranged between said rigid elements (104, 105) and at least rotatably movable about a rotational axis of said hinge. The member further includes a hole (108) through which said elongate part (109) may inserted.

Abstract: A pivot joint includes two mounting plates respectively fixedly fastened to two parts of an apparatus and coupled together by a rivet for enabling the two mounting plates to be turned relative to each other, an axle sleeve mounted on the rivet between the two mounting plates, a first washer and a second washer respectively mounted on the rivet and attached to one mounting plate at two opposite sides, wherein the axle sleeve has a recessed hole at one end, and the second washer is made of friction rubber, having a first part received in the recessed hole at one end of the axle sleeve, and a second part stopped against one mounting plate at one side.

Abstract: This fixing device includes a cylindrical core (1) provided with an axial orifice (4) through which the front end (10) of a lever arm (2) can slide with a snug fit. The core includes to the interior a positioning projection (11) and two axial extensions (13) provided with securing projections (14) and linked to a coaxial circular ring (17). The front end (10) of the lever arm (2) includes an axial groove (19) adapted to take the positioning projection (11), and on its centered portion (21) a coaxial securing groove (22) adapted to take said securing projections (14).

Abstract: A bull rope safety release includes two shank pieces which can be joined together to keep a bull rope firmly in place over the body of a bucking bull or bronco. The safety release includes two D-rings which are connected to the bull rope and hold the safety release in place. A locking lever in one of the shank pieces has a hook which engages a brace bar in the other shank piece. The other end of the locking lever is connected to a pull cord with a wire or other means. A brace member is centrally disposed inside the body of the first shank and provides a support about which the locking lever rotates when the pull cord is yanked. A second lever is provided inside the second shank piece and can be likewise yanked to disengage the two shank pieces from one another.

Abstract: A right-angle scaffold coupler comprises two jaw assemblies (10A, 10B) each with jaws formed by a closure-plate (12) hinged to a common chassis (11), and having a hand lever (14) hinged (at 21) to the plate (12) with a spirally-coiled spring (25 FIG. 4) as hinge-pin within interleaved finger-lugs (26, 27). A hook-member (15) hinged to the lever (14) engages a lip (19) of the chassis (11) so that depression of the lever (14) pulls the plate (12) towards the chassis (11) in closing the jaws onto a scaffolding tube (13) and clamping to it by over-center action. The spring (25) coils up more tightly during the over-center action allowing resilient displacement between the lugs (26, 27) of hinge (21) to accommodate variations in tube circumference. The jaw surface (17) of the chassis (11) subtends more than 180 degrees to snap fit with the tube (13).

Abstract: A spacer for supporting a horizontally extending guard rail on a vertically extending post in a roadway safety barrier system includes a first portion that is secured to the guard rail and a second portion that is secured to the post. The first and second portions are shaped to correspond with the shapes of the guard rail and the post secured thereto. For example, if the guard rail is formed having an undulating cross sectional shape, the first portion of the space is formed having a corresponding undulating cross sectional shape. One or more bores are formed through the spacer between said first and second faces for receiving a bolt for securing the guard rail and the post to the spacer. The spacer is formed from a thermoplastic material that is recyclable, will not absorb water, stable under the ultraviolet and other radiation generated by the sun, will not splinter, crack, or delaminate in use, and is more cost effective than conventional wooden spacers.

Abstract: A set of paving blocks wherein each block is a prism having side and end walls that are irregular in outline but are contained only within a respective virtual rectangular perimeter. The rectangular perimeter has a length L in a X axis and a width W in a Y axis at right angle to the X axis. At least two spaced apart parallel sections of the prism extend between the side walls, parallel to the Y axis and terminate at the virtual rectangular perimeter, such that each section has a width equal to W and the prism has at least one section bisecting the virtual rectangle parallel to the X axis and terminating at a rectangular perimeter and having a length equal to L.

Abstract: A bi-directional surface leveling system comprises a chassis attachable to a motion source and having a hitch, a grader frame pivotably connected to the hitch and supporting a box grader, and a forward frame pivotably attached to the grader frame and having a caster wheel for supporting the chassis. The box grader holds a bi-directional earth grading tool. Also included is a damping assembly attached to the hitch to dampen upward movement of the grader frame. A powered assembly is pivotably connected at one end to the forward frame and at the opposing end to the grader frame, and a control unit connected to the power assembly selectively extends and retracts the power assembly.

Abstract: A soil cement bank lining system is provided for substantially reducing or eliminating erosion along the banks of a waterway such as a flood conveyance facility. The system includes at least two soil cement linings arranged at spaced apart locations. One or more over-bank grade control structures are interposed between the first and second linings. The respective linings preferably extend parallel to the body of water, with one lining being disposed farther from the body of water and at a higher elevation than the other lining.

Abstract: A method of forming a cast-in-situ pile with an enlarged head, wherein a collar (1,13) is releasably affixed to the lower end of a piling tool (10) and the piling tool (10) and the collar (1,13) are driven to a first depth and the collar (1,13) is released from the piling tool (10). The piling tool (10) is then driven to a second depth, the piling tool (10) passing freely through a central aperture (2,14) of the collar (1,13), which remains at the first depth. The piling tool (10) is then withdrawn, and concrete or grout (20) is supplied to the lower end of the piling tool so as to form a cast-in-situ pile (22). When the lower end of the piling tool (10) again reaches the first depth, the collar (1,13) is lifted from the ground and concrete or grout (20) is supplied into the void left thereby so as to form a pile (22) with an enlarged head (23).

Abstract: A retaining wall anchoring system for a segmental retaining wall comprising a plurality of tieback rods adapted to be embedded into soil or rock with a proximal portion extending therefrom, at least one elongated force distribution member positionable directly adjacent the proximal portion of at least one of the tieback rods, a washer positionable about the proximal portions of the tieback rod in abutment with the force distribution member, and a fastener fixedly securable to the proximal portion of the tieback rod to securely clamp the washer against the force distribution member such that tensile forces imposed on the tieback rod are transmitted to the force distribution member so as to distribute these forces throughout a portion of the retaining wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing high density slurry and paste backfills for use, for example, in mining operations. The high density slurry or paste is produced from a mill tailings mixture in a silo which includes a percolation and decant apparatuses for percolating water out of the mill tailings mixture and for decanting clarified water from atop the settled tailings. While settling occurs, air is introduced from the bottom of the silo to agitate the mixture to ensure substantially homogeneous settlement of the solids. Once settled, the resultant high density slurry or paste is fluidized by air in order to give the paste more readily flowable characteristics.

Abstract: A retaining wall made up of a plurality of blocks shaped to prevent the escape of material used to fill the cavities of the wall while allowing dissipation of pressures exerted on the wall by the retained earth and a method of constructing the wall taking advantage of the continuous, uninterrupted vertical cavities formed by the unique shape of the blocks. The shape of the blocks comprises a front portion interconnected to a rear portion which has ears on opposite sides which cooperate on adjacent blocks to create a tortuous path into a space created between two adjacent blocks. In a preferred embodiment the rear portion further comprises a cavity which, when pyramidally placed on top of two adjacent blocks, forms a continuous, uninterrupted vertical column which significantly increases the weight and strength of the wall when filled with a particulate filling material.

Abstract: A modular wall block is adapted for being assembled together with a number of like blocks in stacked courses to form a retaining wall. The wall block includes a front face and rear, top and bottom, and opposing sides. A locking shear key extends outwardly from either of the top or bottom of the wall block, and is adapted for residing between respective adjacent sides of like blocks in an adjacent upper or lower course to anchor the wall block in position. A severable area is formed with the shear key for being removed to accommodate placement and orientation of the wall block between respective adjacent sides of like blocks in an adjacent upper or lower course.

Abstract: The present invention provides an end-mill tool which includes a shank, a point, and a main body portion located intermediate the shank and the point. A first flute is formed on the main body portion along a first helix. A second flute is formed on the main body portion along a second helix. The first and second flutes preferably extend helically along the body of the tool. Two distinct helical cutting surfaces are defined by the first flute and the second flute. The point of the tool includes two additional cutting edges formed by ears extending outward from the point of the tool adjacent the first flute and the second flute.

Abstract: A metal cutting tool includes a holder arrangement, an indexible cutting insert seated on an insert-receiving site of the holder arrangement, and a screw for fastening the insert to the site. The bottom side of the insert includes more than two upright abutment surfaces arranged to abut respective upright support surfaces of the site, whereby the areas of contact formed by the mutually abutting surfaces lie inside of an outer perimeter of the insert. The abutment surfaces are oriented non-parallel to one another. The screw is arranged to urge the insert in a direction whereby less than all of the abutment surfaces abut respective support surfaces, and at least one abutment surface does not abut a support surface. When the insert is indexed, the non-abutting abutment surface is relocated and caused to abut a support surface when the screw is tightened, while an abutment surface that previously abutted a support surface becomes a non-abutting surface.

Abstract: A toolholder for holding a cutting insert, particularly for grooving and/or parting operations. The toolholder comprises a base and a clamping arm forming therebetween a pocket and a slot. The pocket is open at a front end thereof for receiving the cutting insert, and the slot extends rearwardly from a rear end of the pocket. A fastening screw extends through the slot from the clamping arm to the base for displacing the clamping arm toward the base in order to clamp the cutting insert within the pocket. A spacer is disposed in the slot for limiting an extent of movement of the clamping arm toward the base, thereby preventing overclamping of the clamping arm.

Abstract: A hybrid tool serves as a form on which constituent materials are applied for bonding or curing into a part in a desired configuration. It also serves as a holder for the bonded or cured materials in the originally applied position during subsequent machining. The hybrid tool is made by fabricating a face sheet of composite material having a facing surface configured to the reverse of a desired shape of one surface of a part to be made on the tool. The actual part will be laid up on the facing surface, cured while on the tool, and even trimmed before release. Base structure of the tool holds the facing surface of the face sheet in the desired shape, and includes ground-engaging pads that define an “A” datum plane. The tool aligns a reference plane of the face sheet parallel to the datum plane. A substantially continuous groove in the face sheet, used for trimming the part, opens in the facing surface.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for securing a load on the flat bed of a truck having sidewalls or other vehicle having a like cargo area. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a base member having rods extending substantially vertically therefrom. Adjustable side connectors are coupled to the base member at one or both sides of the base member in order to secure the base member to the side walls of the flat bed. A slide bar is adjustably displaced along the length of the rods to adapt to loads of varying height. The slide bar serves to secure and to stabilize the load. A fastener directs the slide bar against the load and toward the base member. Thus, the slide bar acts in a clamp-like manner to secure a load within the flat bed area of a vehicle. The present invention further comprises extension elements which enable the side connectors to be engaged to the sidewalls of the flat bed at varying heights depending on the construction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hook and rail for use with tensioned webs and the like wherein the hook is defined by an opening in a stamped plate body having a throat through which a rail is received when the hook is angularly oriented to the rail in a particular manner. The hook body has a tension axis and the dimension of the hook throat parallel to the tension axis is less than the dimension of the rail in the direction of the tension axis during hook operation. The hook opening includes a recess and a guide surface whereby upon release of the tension in the web, and movement of the hook under gravity, positions the rail in the opening recess maintaining the anchor captured within the hook opening and the rail configuration prevents disengagement of the hook unless the hook is rotated through a specific motion.

Abstract: A locknut according comprises a C-shaped nut with a radial gap cut through one side. The locknut functionality is provided by making the threads of the nut undersize, by deforming the C-shape inward such that the internal threads are out of round until the nut is assembled on a screw, or by twisting the nut so as to axially displace the threads on opposite sides of the gap.