Abstract: The mini mighty machine enable a regular person to shine a shoe or clean a sneaker with an easy way and a professional looking result.

Abstract: A restaurant cleaning towel made from a substrate such as a woven, nonwoven, or knit fabric. A sanitizer release polymer composition comprising at least one cationic (or alternatively, nonionic) surfactant is bound to the surface of the towel. Preferably, the cationic surfactant is present in the sanitizer release polymer composition in an amount of about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on a total weight of the composition. The composition may also include at least one nonionic co-surfactant in combination with the cationic surfactant. The towel also includes a color label on its surface to identify the area of the restaurant in which the cleaning towel is to be utilized. The towel may optionally include an international icon, a tactile label, and/or a label in a plurality of languages identifying the area where the towel is to be utilized.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a powered or manual toothbrush having a polymer battery as a power source. The polymer battery contains no heavy metals, making it environmentally safe, and contains no alkaline, making it physically safe. The polymer battery is inexpensive and rechargeable, making it an economical power source for the toothbrush. The small size of the polymer battery saves space in the toothbrush housing, enabling the housing to be smaller and saving on materials of construction. The flexible nature of the polymer battery enables it to be shaped to fit into or around the periphery of the toothbrush housing design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supporting device for an interdental cleaning means, of the type comprising a handle and a tightening head for an elongated appendix portion of said cleaning means, said tightening head comprising a central body around which a complementary rotating bush is mounted, and wherein said bush and said central body have a common hole for hosting said appendix portion, which hole is substantially parallel and offset relative to the rotation axis of the bush.

Abstract: A colored bathing device of comprises a net strip and at least one positioning sheet. The net strip includes a plurality of continuous sub-strips which have different colors. The different sub-strips are folded so that a part of one sub-strip is overlapped with a part of another adjacent sub-strip. At least one positioning sheet clamps the net strip for positioning all the sub-strips. Then the longitudinal centers of all of the sub-strips are compressed so as to reduce the size of centers. In the present invention, the positioning sheet may be a long positioning sheet so as to form a long colored bathing device, and the positioning sheet can be a short positioning sheet so as to form a ball-shape colored bathing device. Moreover, a rope ties the centers of each sub-strip for replacing the short positioning sheet so as to form a ball shape colored bathing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a hole or bore in a work piece has a reel, a switch, a mandrel, a cutting edge and a cleaning material. The cleaning material is driven by the first reel and extends over the mandrel. The trigger causes the first reel to pull the cleaning material over the mandrel to clean the hole or bore.

Abstract: A window cleaning apparatus includes a handle, a paddle and a cleaning element. The paddle is removably attachable to the handle. The handle includes oppositely extending end pins which are pivotally received in receivers carried on the paddle. At least one of the receivers has a bore which receives on of the handle end pins. At least one of the receivers is formed with separable members for forming a snap-connection with one of the handle end pins. The cleaning element has side edges with elastic to draw the ends of the side edges of the body inward to form an opening smaller than the outer diameter of the paddle to releasably attach the cleaning element about the paddle.

Abstract: Broadly, a paint roller kit includes a paint roller formed from an annular applicator, which surmounts a single interior annular core. The applicator has a central valley for forming a pair of spaced-apart applicator heads. Each applicator head is capable of being simultaneously dipped into different colored paint for creating two-color paint finishes. Advantageously, the applicators are spaced-apart to reveal the core. Preferably, the thickness of each of the applicator heads is at least about 0.5 inches and can range upwards to at least about 0.75 inches or more and be quite useful in use. The paint roller kit also includes a roller pan having a central divider for forming a pair of paint reservoirs adapted to be simultaneously accessed by the applicator heads. The depth of the valley is at least as great as the height of the pan divider.

Abstract: A trowel assembly includes a blade plate, a connecting strip fixed on the blade plate and formed with an insertion recess, and a handle mounted on the connecting strip and having a downward extended support post provided with an insertion block inserted into the insertion recess of the connecting strip. Thus, the connecting strip is fixed on the blade plate in a riveting manner, and the handle is combined with the connecting strip in a screwing manner, so that the trowel assembly can be assembled easily, rapidly and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user mounting the trowel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a cleaning device (10), including an elongated substantially tubular portion (12) extending a long a first axis (A-A) and a blade element (14) attached to and extending away from the elongated tubular portion (12). The blade element (14) has a base portion (16) and an edge portion (18), and the edge portion (18) extends along a second axis (B-B), which is parallel to the first axis (A-A) of the tubular portion (12). Both the tubular portion (12) and the blade element (14) are manufactured from a flexible and deformable material having excellent memory characteristics.

Abstract: This invention concerns a foaming system and foaming method having a simple and cheap structure capable of supplying foamed surface active agent solution to a relatively wide supply object uniformly with an excellent foaming condition. This foaming system (floor surface cleaning system 1) comprises: a plurality of foaming means (foaming devices 2a-2d) for foaming surface active agent solution; foamed liquid supply means for supplying the surface active agent solution foamed by the plurality of foaming means to a supply object (floor surface F); a surface active agent supply means (liquid supply pipe 13) for supplying the surface active agent solution to the plurality of foaming means; a gas supply means (air supply pipe 26) for supplying gas to the plurality of foaming means; and a water supply means (liquid supply pipe 13) for supplying water to said supply object. The foamed liquid supply means includes a plurality of pipe-like members (division pipes 6a-6d) corresponding to the plurality of foaming means.

Abstract: For the purpose of delivering, in the lying-flat condition, book blocks or books which are fed in, standing on their back or on the front cut and at defined timing intervals along their height, from a preceding machine in a transport path, provision is made, according to the method, for the books to be picked up, in accordance with the timing, in the transport path, swung out transversely to the direction of infeed and transferred into a defined delivery position which is spaced apart from the transport path, and is essentially a lying-flat position and from which said books can be fed to subsequent machines synchronously with the timing.

Abstract: A floor cleaning device comprises a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle portion pivotally connected to the base. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly for agitating the surface, wherein the brush assembly and the nozzle assembly are in a first position raised off of the surface for vacuuming the surface, and the nozzle assembly is lowered to a second position contacting the surface for collecting and picking up liquid and dirt from the surface. A method of cleaning a surface by first dry vacuuming the surface using a cleaning unit in which the nozzle assembly is raised to pick up particles and then wet vacuuming the floor with the nozzle assembly lowered to collect and pick up dirt from the floor mixed with cleaning solution distributed on the floor.

Abstract: A bush for holding first and second member includes a shaft portion having two ends, and a flange integrally formed on one of the two ends of the shaft portion to extend radially outwardly therefrom. The flange has at least one first pressing portion capable of deforming in an axial direction of the shaft portion for elastically pressing one of the two second member toward the other.

Abstract: A slide formed from an upwardly cupped plate made of an acetal copolymer matrix into which a lubricant is incorporated with slidability and load baring capability making it suitable for use in moving furniture or other heavy objects across a floor. A non-slip pad formed of a synthetic plastic material is seated in a recess formed in an upper face of the plate. The plate is shaped such that when it is partially inserted under a heavy object, a forward edge of a lower face of the plate rises above the floor such that the slide will pass over obstacles.

Abstract: A damper includes a cylindrical housing; a rotor rotationally housed in the cylindrical housing; a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the rotor; viscous fluid filled in the cylindrical housing; and a spare winding setting device for setting the biasing force of the biasing member. When the rotor rotates, the rotation is damped by a shear resistance of the viscous fluid filled in the cylindrical housing. The damper may include an open position lock mechanism having a first engaging projection disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical housing and a second engaging projection disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor. The first and second engaging projections can engage or move over with each other.

Abstract: An insulated elastic cover that slips snuggly over interior or exterior door knob. It is constructed in a manner that allows locking and unlocking actions, as well as the ability to turn the door knob. Invention takes advantage of state-of-the-art materials to maximize insulating properties while minimizing bulk. Additionally, material is impregnated with anti-bacteriological medium that destroys hand-borne bacteria transferred from hand to door knob.

Abstract: A reversible handle assembly including a non-symmetrically shaped handle. The reversible handle is positionable in either the left hand or the right hand configuration and can be attached with spacer posts to either an escutcheon plate or to the surface of a door. The spacer post height can vary allowing adjustable profile heights.

Abstract: A hinge apparatus of a drum for a clothing drier includes a front hinge portion formed between a front of a case and a front of a drum, for rotatably supporting the front of the drum; and a rear hinge portion installed between a rear of the case and a rear of the drum, and for supporting the rear of the drum so as to swing in vertical and horizontal directions, so that the drum can be smoothly rotated without being eccentric even in case that the center of rotation of the front of the drum is different from that of the rear of the drum, and also noise and vibration generated when the drum is rotated can be minimized.

Abstract: The improved pinless hinge assembly (24) includes a first hinge plate (28) having a curled edge (28a) defining a center roll having a longitudinal axis (P) with an aperture (42) in the first hinge plate (28). A second hinge plate (30) having a free edge (30a) curled about the center roll. A locking lug (40) extends from the free edge (30a) of the second hinge (30) and is routed first through the first aperture (42) in the first hinge plate (28) and then through the second aperture (44) in the second hinge plate (30). The locking lug (40) is engaged in a seat (46) in the second hinge plate (30) to maintain the free edge (30a) of the second hinge plate (30) curled about the center roll when the first hinge plate (28) rotates relative to the second hinge plate (30) about the longitudinal axis (P). A pair of locking lugs (40) may be also be used.

Abstract: A hinge includes a cylinder having a close end and an open end longitudinally opposite to the close end of the cylinder. A polygonal sleeve is fixedly received in the cylinder. The polygonal sleeve has multiple edges abutting against an inner periphery of the cylinder. A pivot axle is partially pivotally received in the sleeve. A sealant is mounted around the pivotally for tightly closing the open end of the cylinder to prevent the lubricant in the hinge from leaking.

Abstract: The self-locking hinge (24) includes a first plate (28) hingedly connected to a second plate (30). Fasteners (24) are provided on the plates to secure them to a member, such as a easel strut hinge (24) of picture frame back (20). A locking structure is connected to the first plate (28) and the second plate (30) for maintaining the second plate (30) in the substantially open position relative to the first plate (28). The locking hinge (24) includes a protrusion (36) on the first plate (28) that removably engages with a free edge (34) of the second plate (30). The hinge (24) also includes a structure for maintaining the second plate (30) in rotating arrangement with the first plate (28) when the plates (28, 30) are hingedly secured to one another in a rolled pinless fashion. Locking lugs (40) are used to maintained the second plate (30) rolled about the first plate (28).

Abstract: The stabilizer apparatus for a power head attachment for rotationally powered tools in which a housing supports a stabilizer apparatus including a stabilizer collar rotatable to selected positions relative to the input shaft of the head attachment and a stabilizer arm pivotally mounted on the collar for movement to selected angular positions relative to the axis of the input shaft between a plurality of locked positions and a single unlocked position. In the unlocked position of the arm, the collar can be rotated to various circumferential positions and in each one of the positions the stabilizer arm can be located at a selected one of multiple angular positions which also lock the arm and collar in a fixed position making possible many combinations of positions of the stabilizer arm relative to the power head of the tool.

Abstract: An ergonomic handle for a manually applied tool is provided. The handle includes at least one concave or convex grip lengths, and preferably two curved grip lengths. The curved grip lengths reduce slippage of a user's hands along the elongate shaft and provide opportunities to adjust the user's hands and thereby reduce the incidence of repetitive stress damage. The grip lengths are spaced closer to a shovel blade or a pitch fork fixture, and further away from a hoe blade or a rake head head. The user may thus stand more upright when raking or hoeing and conversely apply more physical power when shoveling or forking material. The grip lengths may be retrofittable onto handles having an elongated shaft. The ergonomic handle may be detachabley attachable to tool fixtures.

Abstract: An apparatus for on card cleaning and grinding of revolving flats (4) in a carding machine is disclosed. The apparatus mounts an interchangeable rotary cleaning brush (14) or grinding wheel (16) on a wheel drive (11) so that the wheel can be spun around an axis lateral to the path of the revolving flats (4). During a carding operation the height of the cleaning brush (14) is accurately adjusted by a precision feeding mechanism so that the brush cleans down to the surface of the revolving flats of the revolving flats (4) and so cleans and polishes the wires (4b) and the fouling which commonly accumulates beneath the points (4c) of the wires. The brush (14) can readily be replaced by a grinding wheel with a peripheral grinding surface.

Abstract: A textile machine, especially a spinning preparation machine, included a drafting device having several drive disks for driving machine elements, especially drafting device rollers. At least one endless belt surrounds at least two of the drive disks. The belt comprises at least two longitudinal ribs on one side that are received in corresponding longitudinal grooves on the circumference side and running in the circumferential direction of at least one drive disk in contact with the endless belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing useful materials from filament-forming ?-helical proteins or filaments made of such proteins. The method comprises allowing filament-forming ?-helical proteins to self-assemble into ?-helix containing filaments and forming fibres, films or bulk materials from the filaments. The materials are stretched to strain the filaments so that the ?-helices substantially irreversibly change to ?-sheet forms. The filament-forming ?-helical proteins can comprise intermediate filament proteins. In a specific embodiment, the filament-forming proteins comprise hagfish slime thread IF proteins.

Abstract: A belt adjuster including a base having a bottom with two guides on two opposing sides; an adjustable support located on the base and having a support body with stops; slippers are provided within the support body; a spring is located between said two slippers, and at least one press piece controlling said slippers is provided at opposing sides and above the support body; a top cover is located above the adjustable support; and two belts pass separately through holes in the base, the adjustable support and the top. The slippers selectively are movable between locked and released positions.

Abstract: A multi-component connection system suitable for automobiles includes a female clip member having a slot, and a male clip member having a male element insertable within the slot. The slot and male element include mutually engageable cooperative structures. A shank connected to the male element includes wings mounted at a distal end and capable of resilient lateral deflection relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank. The female clip member may be affixed to a first component and the male clip member may be insertable within a hole in a second component so as to connect the two components when the male clip member is inserted in the hole, the male element is disposed within the slot, and the cooperative structures are engaged.

Abstract: A plant support device designed to support the weight of a limb, branch or other plant segment by connecting to both the plant and a supporting string or wire. The plant support device is preferably made of a semi-rigid plastic and includes an elongated shaft portion, a hook portion connected at one end of the shaft portion, and an attachment portion having a clip connected at the other end. The attachment portion is designed to securely attach to the string such that in use the plant support device is suspended from the string and can carry the weight of the plant without sliding down the string. The attachment portion preferably includes several projections and a complementary recess that together define a sinuous slot for receiving and retaining the string.

Abstract: A strap of a zipper includes a stitch portion longitudinally formed on a first side of the strap and a dress portion longitudinally formed on a second side of the strap adjacent to the stitch portion. A series of teeth is longitudinally secured on the stitch portion for engaging to a series of teeth of an adjacent strap. Multiple naps upwardly extend from the dress portion of the strap to show a special pattern and image on the strap.

Abstract: A stentering machine having a horizontal drying zone and a vertical pretreatment zone for a web of material spread out between stentering chains is described. The stentering chains are brought from the vertical position into a horizontal position in a deflection zone. In order to achieve the result, in the case of a stentering chain with deflection about axes that stand vertical to the surface of the web of material, that the chain can be guided through the deflection zone with tilting of the linking pins, without damage to the pin bearings, the deflection pins are configured to be crowned elements. The deflection bolt bearings are shaped to correspond to the crowning of the pins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container for storage and transportation of dead animals or organic waste, and which prevents their decomposition by the use of a nitrogen storage tank for saturate air.

Abstract: A new kind of central bridge for spectacle frame and lenses where no welding is required, and no screws were needed to secure lenses to frame. Protruding members on end portion of central bridge are formed, together with the bridge itself, when cut out by a wire-cutting means. Fitting lenses to spectacle frame requires pressing capping pieces into the protruding members having ratchet-like teeth to receive and secure the lenses in place. Durability of spectacle frames is enhanced as a result of no temperature change to the elasticity of the frame material.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method for teaching the position of a semiconductor wafer automatically and accurately without relying on the sight of an operator as well as a teaching jig that is used for the above method. To this end, in the invention, a teaching jig 11 is detected by a first transmission-type sensor 6 that is provided at the tips of a wafer gripping portion 5 of a robot. The teaching jig 11 is composed of a large disc portion 12 that is the same in outer diameter as a semiconductor wafer and a small disc portion 13 that is concentric with the large disc portion 12. The teaching jig 21 is detected by a second transmission-type sensor 18 that is provided on the wafer gripping portion 5. The second transmission-type sensor 18 is mounted on a sensor jig 15 so as to be detachable form the wafer gripping portion 5.

Abstract: A machining apparatus for conducting at least one of a cutting process and a grinding process, comprises a stationary base; and a working device mounted on the stationary base and having a degree of freedom of more than two axes to conduct at least one of a cutting process and a grinding process, the working device comprising a first working bench which is formed of a ceramic material and is movable linearly with a degree of freedom of not less than one axes or more while holding a work piece or a tool.

Abstract: A machining unit has a spindle-carrier structure, which can be oriented around a vertical axis.

Abstract: A flexible retainer for retaining die blades in a tool assembly. The retainer comprises inner and outer walls with the inner wall being generally concentric with and radially spaced inward from the outer wall. The inner wall defines a central opening in the retainer which is configured and adapted to extend radially around the die blades so that the retainer retains the die blades in the die assembly while allowing radial movement of the die blades. The retainer may have at least one channel that extends axially between the inner and outer walls.

Abstract: A position sensor for an electronic control pedal is carried by the pedal mounting bracket and includes a linear potentiometer having a slider operable along a substrate in only a linear direction for providing an output voltage representative of slider displacement. A drive arm is connected to the pedal shaft for rotation during pedal movement. A coupler connected to the slider is slidable within a slot in the drive arm for providing the linear displacement through a rotational movement of the shaft. The drive arm has an inner arm in a telescoping connection with an outer arm for setting the drive arm at a desired length after potentiometer calibration. The longitudinal axis of the slot is at an non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive arm for desensitizing the sensor calibration and adjustment process.

Abstract: An armature for a brush commutated electric motor having a distributed coil winding arrangement for reducing brush arcing and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The winding pattern involves segmenting each coil into first and second subcoil portions with differing pluralities of turns. Each subcoil portion is wound around separate pairs of spaced apart slots of a lamination stack. Adjacent coils are wound such that one subcoil portion of each is wound in a common slot to therefore form an overlapping arrangement of each pair of adjacently coils. The winding pattern serves to “shift” the resultant magnetic axes of each coil in such a manner so as to significantly reduce brush arcing and the EMI resulting therefrom. The reduction in EMI is sufficient to eliminate the need for EMI reducing components, such as chokes, which have typically been required to maintain EMI to acceptably low levels.

Abstract: A method for assembling a one-piece stator lead and terminal insulator for an oil cooled alternator, wherein the one-piece stator lead and terminal insulator comprises an arcuate plate having three cylindrical retainers positioned thereon for receiving stator terminals. The arcuate plate also includes three guides for guiding stator leads to the terminals. Three rectangular holes are provided next to each of the guides. The rectangular holes receive insulating ties that encircle the stator leads and hold the stator leads to the plate, properly positioning the stator leads away from other conductors and housings within the alternator. Two flanges also extend from the plate to aid in assembly of the device and further act to properly position the stator leads away from other conductors and housings within the alternator.

Abstract: A rotor assembly or other rotating device having a stack of laminations or laminates that are chemically bonded together. Chemical bond of the laminates may have a strength that approaches the strength of the material of metal laminates. Chemical bonds may be effective in holding the laminates at temperatures when subject to rigorous mechanical operations such as high rotation speed and vibration.

Abstract: A preferred method for forming a transformer winding includes providing a length of copper wire having a substantially circular cross section, flattening the length of copper wire in two dimensions on a substantially simultaneous basis, and winding the length of copper wire into a first layer of adjacent turns.

Abstract: Slot core inductors and transformers and methods for manufacturing same including using large scale flex circuitry manufacturing methods and machinery for providing two mating halves of a transformer winding. One winding is inserted into the slot of a slot core and one winding is located proximate to the exterior wall of the slot core. These respective halves are joined together using solder pads or the like to form continues windings through the slot and around the slotted core.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disk drive. One or more legacy components, such as heads, are installed in a next generation disk drive of a prespecified capacity. Control parameters of the disk drive are modified so that the drive functions with the legacy head(s) for providing the prespecified capacity.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises, at least, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer having an ionic conductivity. The first and second electrodes oppose each other by way of the electrolyte layer. The first and second electrodes comprise a composite particle containing an electrode active material, a conductive auxiliary agent having an electronic conductivity, and a binder adapted to bind the electrode active material and conductive auxiliary agent to each other. In the composite particle, the electrode active material and conductive auxiliary agent are electrically coupled to each other without being isolated.

Abstract: A matted particulate electrode located between the current collector and a porous separator of a rechargeable lithium battery is described, which contains electro-active particles intermixed with pliable, solid, lithium ion conducting, polymer electrolyte filaments having adhesive surfaces. The electro-active particles and the optionally added electro-conductive carbon particles adhere to the tacky surface of the adhesively interlinking polymer electrolyte filaments. The matted particulate electrode is impregnated with an organic solution containing another lithium compound. In a second embodiment the porous separator is coated on at least one of its faces, with polymer electrolyte having an adhesive surface and made of the same polymer as the electrolyte filaments. The polymer electrolyte filaments in the matted layer may adhere to the coated surface of the separator.

Abstract: A bonding device. A plurality of bonding units each has a base and a fastening member. Each base has a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a stopper. An electronic device has a circuit unit and a predetermined element. The circuit unit has several first positioning portions and the predetermined element has several second positioning portions. The first positioning portions and the second positioning portions are through holes. When the predetermined element is attached to the upper surface of the circuit unit by aligning the second positioning portions with the corresponding first positioning portions, the second connecting portion of the base is first fit into the first positioning portions of the circuit unit, then the fastening member passes through the second positioning portion of the predetermined element to couple with the fastening member by several turns. Thus, the predetermined element is fixed on the circuit unit.

Abstract: When a component that has a connection portion to be connected to the electrode of a board and a weak heat-resistant portion of a lower heat-resisting property than the fusing point of a connection material for connecting the electrode of the board with the connection portion is connected to the board with interposition of the connection material between the electrode of the board and the connection portion, a cooling member is brought in contact with the weak heat-resistant portion or its neighborhood while heating the connection material by heating the board brought in contact with a placement member, and the quantity of heat conducted to the weak heat-resistant portion via the board is reduced by being conducted to the cooling member, carrying out the fusing of the connection material while preventing the occurrence of thermal damage to the weak heat-resistant portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical device that is electrically and mechanically connectable to another electrical device, the electrical device having a face equipped with contact pads, wherein the method includes: a layer-application step in which an adhesive layer is applied on the face equipped with contact pads, the adhesive layer being composed of a substance with adhesive properties; an opening-creation step in which an opening is created through the adhesive layer at the level of a contact pad; an opening-filing step in which the opening is filled with a conductive material so that the opening is substantially filled with the conductive material so as to form a conductive path the volume of which is defined by the opening.