Abstract: A head for a toothbrush has a motion directing assembly structured for rotating a first set of bristles in an oscillating motion through an arc of rotation about a central rotational axis while simultaneously moving the first set of bristles in a linear reciprocating motion generally parallel to the central rotational axis. In further embodiments, a second set of bristles is moved as well, and in an oscillating motion through an arc of rotation about the same central rotational axis as the first set of bristles, in the opposite rotational direction, while simultaneously moving in a linear reciprocating motion in the opposite linear direction relative to the first set of bristles, such that as one set of bristles is moving inwardly, the other set of bristles is moving outwardly relative to the brush head.

Abstract: Method, aggregate and vehicle wash equipment to with at least one fluid jet remove from an exterior surface of a vehicle (F) solid and liquid particles and where appropriate also increase the lustre of the surface, where the jet is brought to move along the surface during simultaneous exercise of a substantially horizontal oscillating movement.

Abstract: A rotary brush assembly that is mounted to a traction vehicle such as a skid steer type vehicle in such a way to as to be capable of sweeping horizontal, vertical, and overhead surfaces. The device is capable of sweeping in close proximity to objects protruding from these surfaces. The assembly is attached to the vehicle such that the operator has and an unrestricted view of the swept surface immediate to the brush, allowing the operator to address skips as they occur.

Abstract: A low-profile sweeper that employs rotary brushes. The low-profile sweeper is especially suited for low overhead clearance applications, as typically found in nut harvesting. The low-profile sweeper has an armature for locating one or more brushes in an array, or attached to a conventional agricultural sweeper. The armature attaches to a chassis or frame of a steerable drive. When used in a parallel oriented array, the brushes rotate in the same, common direction and in substantially the same, common plane of rotation, slightly skewed to avoid contact between the brushes. The bristles of the radial brushes are emanate fro a central hub and are approximately parallel to the plane of rotation. A fan can be utilized to aid the pick-up action of the brushes. The fan is preferably mounted to direct an airstream to the area to be swept. Also, a spray-bar can be attached to the armature or alternatively to the chassis, to aid in dust abatement.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head and a handle, wherein the head has a plurality of elastomeric cleaning members surrounded by cleaning elements. The cleaning elements can be a plurality of tufts of bristles that extend farther from the head than the cleaning members to retain dentifrice. Additional cleaning elements can also be provided at either end or along the sides of the head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a holding device including a handle and a support member pivotally connected to a front end of the handle for supporting a cleaning wiper. The support member has a pivot axis oriented in a direction crossing a shaft axis of the handle. The support member has sliding surfaces and recesses alternating with each other about the pivot axis. The handle has a locking member capable of engaging in the recesses. The locking member is movable along the shaft axis inside the handle. The locking member is provided along with a biasing member for applying a biasing force to the locking member toward the recesses and an operating member for moving the locking member against the biasing force.

Abstract: This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/189,407, filed Aug. 30, 2002 which claims benefit of provisional application No. 60/329,179, filed Oct. 15, 2001. This new and improved cone hair care brush is provided which enables multiple curls of varying diameters within each lock of hair. Also, the cone hairbrush allows for a root lifter to achieve more body to the overall look of the hair by applying the smallest end of the cone brushhead invention to the scalp while lifting and blow drying the hair simultaneously. The cone brushhead may include ventilation holes that would allow the hair to blow dry much faster.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head and a handle, wherein the head has a plurality of dense packs of bristles surrounded by a plurality of tufts. The tufts can be inclined, extended farther from the head than the cleaning members to retain dentifrice, and at either end or along the sides of the head.

Abstract: A trimmer head accessory comprising a (i) head with brush bristles on its underside and (ii) attachment hardware is disclosed. The attachment hardware may comprise (i) a spacer cup, (ii) a washer, and (iii) a set of fasteners. The head and attachment hardware are designed so that the present invention can be used to convert virtually any trimmer into an rotary scrubbing tool. The tool can be used for cleaning driveways, patios, garages, wood decks, walls, and even indoor surfaces.

Abstract: A cloth formed of a fabric to include ribs about visually apparent openings having sufficiently small dimensions to limit contact between a user's fingers and a rigid surface. The fabric may be substantially non-absorbent and lightweight. The ribs aid in the cleaning effectiveness of the cloth and the visually apparent openings reduce the weight of the cloth.

Abstract: A lotion applicator comprises two layers of flexible material joined together to allow insertion of at least a part of a user's hand therebetween. At least one of the flexible material layers consists of a non-absorbent liquid-impermeable barrier layer, and a layer of flock or pile or foam applied to the outer surface of the barrier layer. A lotion applied to the at least one flexible material layer is thus, due to the barrier layer, unable to pass beyond the flock layer or pile layer or foam layer.

Abstract: A method of charging a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that includes providing a plurality of scan lines, providing a plurality of video lines formed orthogonal to the scan lines, providing a plurality of cells, each cell including a transistor and a capacitor coupled to the transistor, each of the cells being formed at an intersection of the scan lines and video lines, providing a periodic signal for writing video data into the LCD device, charging the plurality of cells having first-type transistors during a first half cycle of the periodic signal until a first voltage level of the periodic signal is reached, charging the plurality of cells having second-type transistors during a second half cycle of the periodic signal until a second voltage level of the periodic signal is reached, and discharging the plurality of cells to a predetermined voltage level.

Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a cleaning solution onto the cleaning surface, a first solution tank for holding the cleaning solution, and a solid chemical containing a fragrance emitting substance provided in the first solution tank.

Abstract: The generator has a handle part 3 secured to it by screws (not shown) inserted from below the lower casing 2. The handle part has a handle per se 4, which is of U cross-section for accommodating a handle 21 of a hose 22. The hose handle has a resilient button 23 which is received in an aperture 5 in the handle part 3, for retaining the hose handle in place, when not in use. Beneath the handle 4 is an opening 11, covered by a cover plate 12. The plate has depending lugs 14, which are disengageable by lateral finger pressure via cut-outs 15. Removal of the cover plate opens an aperture 31 in a water reservoir 32. The water reservoir has a filling spout 33. The connector moulding 35 has two bored-through projections 40,41.

Abstract: In an electric vacuum cleaner having an intake air opening 18 disposed in a front portion of a main body case 17, a dust collection case 19 which communicates with the intake air opening 18, and a motor fan 20 provided in a back portion of the main body case, and an intake air passage 23, 24, 25 from the dust collection case 19 to the motor fan 20 being formed, a noise blocking member 14d having a specific gravity larger than a material composing the main body case 17 and an area wider than a project area of an intake vent 20a is disposed in the intake air passage 25 facing to the intake vent 20a of the motor fan 20.

Abstract: A container including: at least one wall defining an interior cavity; a propellant disposed in the interior cavity; a release valve disposed in the at least one wall for selectively releasing the propellant from the interior cavity; and a heater for heating the propellant in the interior cavity. Preferably, the container is provided with a venturi device and operates as a suction device upon release of the propellant from the interior cavity into the venturi device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element, which is suspended and guided on a running track by means of roller carriers or gliding elements, using running track retainers that are connected to a substructure and engage with the underside of the running track. The invention also relates to an anti-removal device, which comprises a locking elements that can be pressed elastically against the running track and that yields when crossed by a running track retainer.

Abstract: A hand tool holder comprises a base and a plurality of seats. The base is provided with a slide slot. The seats are provided with a slide block and a retaining portion. The seats are slidably mounted on the base such that the slide block of the seats is slidably received in the slide slot of the base. The retaining portion of the seats is intended to retain separably the hand tool.

Abstract: A bendable extension arm. A stiffening wire having a first end and a second end is connected at its first end to a wire receptor and at its second end to another wire receptor. A sheath covers the stiffening wire and prevents over bending of the stiffening wire. In a preferred embodiment, attachment devices are connected to the wire receptors. For example, in one embodiment a paint brush is connected to one of the wire receptors and an extension pole is connected to the other wire receptor. In another preferred embodiment, the bendable extension arm is used as a bendable handle. The user can grab the bendable handle at one end and attach an attachment device to the other end of the bendable handle. The bendable handle can be bent as desired by the user.

Abstract: Provided is a retractable luggage handle in which either tube assembly thereof comprises one or more stop sleeves each secured to a top of its tube by snapping latches of the stop sleeve into apertures of the tube. A plurality of recesses are formed on either side wall of each tube and each stop sleeve by punching for adding structural strength thereto.

Abstract: A hinge structure for a flat visual display device comprising: a pivotal plate connected to the flat visual display device; a fixing plate connected to a supporting portion for supporting the flat visual display device; a rotational shaft inserted to vertical planes of the pivotal plate and the fixing plate, for rotation of the flat visual display device in one degree of freedom; a frictional member which is formed on an outer periphery of the rotational shaft for enclosing the rotational shaft, and whose both ends have a frictional member tightening plane of a planar shape on which a second inserting hole is formed; and a tightening member inserted to the second inserting hole, for tightening the frictional member tightening plane, thereby tightening the rotational shaft by means of the frictional member, and generating strong breaking force accordingly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hinge structure for a flat visual display device. The hinge structure comprises: a fixed plate and pivotal plates respectively fastened to the flat visual display device and a supporting portion for straightening the flat visual display device; rotation shafts with first ends placed in the side of the fixed plate and second ends placed in the side of the pivotal plates, the first or second ends being fixed to allow relative rotational movement between the fixed and pivotal plates; braking members provided around the rotation shafts for applying braking force; and braking housings provided around the braking members and with first fixed ends opposite to the fixed ends of the rotation shaft for applying braking force to faces contacting with the braking members.

Abstract: A portable terminal hinge prevents positional displacement of components, precludes malfunctions and performs a different operation when opening and closing. A first member of the hinge has a keyboard and is coupled to a second member having a display for the terminal. The members are capable of opening/closing in a vertical direction and of rotating in a horizontal direction at a predetermined open angle. The hinge includes a first hinge shaft coupling the members for opening/closing in the vertical direction and a second hinge shaft coupling the members for rotating in the horizontal direction. The first and second hinge shafts are crossed and engaged with each other so that the second hinge shaft is capable of rotating only at a predetermined rotation angle of the first hinge shaft accompanying the opening/closing operation in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A pivotal device which is fixed onto a first body and a second body and enables the first body to make rotary and upward/downward movements against the second body is provided. The pivotal device includes a rotary spindle and a holder. The rotary spindle which has a sliding track disposed on the lateral side thereof is fixed onto the first body. The holder, which is fixed onto the second holder, has a second run-through hole for pivotally connecting the rotary spindle with at least a protrusion section which is inlaid into the sliding track being disposed at the second run-through hole. When the rotary spindle rotates, the protrusion section will slide along the sliding track enabling the rotary spindle to move closer to or farther from the holder.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly that allows installation and removal of a door by one person. The door hinge assembly comprises: (1) a top hinge plate for attachment to a door comprising a top leaf and a top tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the top leaf; (2) a bottom hinge plate for attachment to a door jamb comprising a bottom leaf, a bottom tubular member protruding from a vertical edge of the bottom leaf, and a hinge pin having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion being fixed inside the bottom tubular member, the top portion extending beyond the bottom tubular member for insertion into the top tubular member and having a threaded end; and (3) a top cap having an internal thread that is engageable with the threaded end of the hinge pin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a multi-layer web product. A long fiber stream is directed around a rotating carding cylinder. Two combing cylinders are disposed adjacent the carding cylinder to comb a first web of long fiber and a second web of long fiber, respectively, from the carding cylinder. A first conveyor receives the first web from the first combing cylinder and transports the first web toward a layering point. Similarly, a second conveyor receives the second web from the second combing cylinder and transports the second web toward the layering point. A short fiber deposition unit is disposed adjacent the second conveyor and deposits short fibers onto the second web. At the layering point, the first conveyor deposits the first web onto the second web, with the short fibers sandwiched therebetween, to form a layered web product.

Abstract: This document applies to a device (1, 8, 13, 22) to maintain in contact, to regulate, adjust or close parts of clothing, undergarments such as bras, garter belts, or any other accessory, and clothing, underclothing, more particularly bras and accessories having such a device. This device includes a first part (2, 14, 23) equipped with at least a first magnetic component (4, 11, 17, 25 30, 52), and a second part (5, 19, 27) equipped with at least a second magnetic component (6, 12, 18, 25, 30) making it possible to fasten, regulate, adjust or close clothing, undergarments or the accessory when one of the aforesaid first and second parts is used to interact with the other part. Each magnetic component is composed of at least two groups each one comprising at least a positive magnet (4?, 6?; 11?, 12?; 17?, 17??; 18?; 25?; 30?) and a negative magnet (4?, 6?; 11?, 12?; 17?, 18? 18?, 18??; 25?, 30?).

Abstract: A slider (1) for a slide fastener comprises a slider body (2) having a mounting hole (13) formed therethrough; an attaching pole (4) having a pin hole (21) formed at the upper end to extend laterally therethrough. The attaching pole (4) is upwardly inserted through the mounting hole (13) with its pin hole (21) lying beyond the upper surface of the slider body (2). A pull tab (3) has two attachment lugs (25) formed at its proximal end and provided with their respective pin apertures (26). A pin (5) is inserted into the pin hole (21) of the attaching pole (4) and the pin apertures (26) of the pull tab (3), so that the pull tab (3) is pivotally mounted on the attaching pole (4). The slider (1) may have a shock-absorbing member (50) made of soft materials and mounted on the pull tab (3) at the region where the pull tab (3) contacts the slider body (2) in order to prevent the pull tab (3) from causing rattling noises.

Abstract: Inexpensively manufactured device and system permits the holding, typically for display purposes, of at least one, but preferrably mulitple items such as a trading cards or photographs in a manner offering an unobstructed view of the items.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male portion and a female portion, the female portion having a top face, a bottom face and a cavity for accepting the male portion. The male portion is adapted to snap into the female portion to lock the two portions of the buckle together. At least one face of the female portion is formed from an integrally molded screen made of the same material as the rest of the female portion and having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the female portion. The screen reduces the weight of the buckle, making it more comfortable for the user as well as less expensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A yarn texturizing system, apparatus, and methods of reducing production loss or increasing production speed in a continuous textured yarn production process are provided. The system includes a yarn supply, a yarn stuffing container to produce textured yarn periodically released therefrom, a yarn draw to draw yarn from the yarn supply to the yarn stuffing container, a yarn conveyor belt positioned downstream from the yarn stuffing container, and a yarn bundler positioned between the yarn stuffing container and the yarn conveyor belt to bundle the textured yarn prior to deposit onto the yarn conveyor belt.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising the steps of: (a) alternately layering internal electrodes and ceramic green sheets containing a ceramic material comprising barium titanate to form a laminated body; (b) sintering the laminated body to obtain a sintered body; and (c) forming an external electrode on end faces of the sintered body to obtain a multilayer ceramic capacitor. The barium titanate has a diffraction line derived from (002) plane and a diffraction line derived from (200) plane in an X-ray diffraction chart. The ratio I(200)/Ib of peak intensity I(200)at 2?(200) to diffraction intensity Ib at a midpoint angle between peak angle 2?(002) of the diffraction line derived from the (002) plane and peak angle 2?(200) of the diffraction line derived from the (200) plane is 2 to 10. The product r·Sa of mean particle size r (?m) of the barium titanate and specific surface area Sa (m2/g) is 1 to 2.

Abstract: A molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of an electric-discharge machined portion 12 of a metal molding member 1 is eliminated by using a tool 70 made by a wire discharge grinding method. According to the wire discharge grinding method, a minute tool which high in processing accuracy and high in hardness can be obtained. Since the molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of the portion 12 due to the electric-discharge machining is eliminated by using the tool, the molten residual layer can be eliminated uniformly with high accuracy.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wrench having a hollow handle includes preparing a head having an engaging portion, necking an end of a metal tubular member, closing another end of the metal tubular member, and fusing the end of the metal tubular member and the head together, forming a wrench having a hollow handle. The step of fusing may be performed before the step of closing. The method may further include a step of proceeding at least one of grinding, patching, and polishing an outer periphery of the hollow handle. Next, the hollow handle may be heat processed to improve the strength and hardness of the tubular member. Then, the surface of the tubular member may be finished.

Abstract: Various appliance models are made by installing a control console onto a base unit. The base units of the appliances are all identical, with the control consoles having different control features, so that different appliance models are made by the different consoles installed on the standardized base units. The console is selected by a purchaser and is mounted by the dealer or retailer or by the manufacturer at a regional warehouse. The appliance can be easily upgraded by removing the first selected console and exchanging for a second selected console having additional control features.

Abstract: A mark is displayed to a manually scrapped component capable of being disassembled manually without disassembling or crushing by machine at the time of discard or recovery of an electric appliance after use, and the manually scrapped component is manually scrapped from a product, and in the case of crushing by machine thereafter, the mark display is a mark capable of separation into plural kinds of substance on which a cost burden is imposed and valuable substance after recovery, and scrapping can be performed easily at low cost.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for loading vehicle bodies in which assembled vehicle bodies are continuously made available from a production process for loading and are prepared for the loading. Several different stations of the loading arrangement are mutually coordinated and monitored by a control unit. A drive operated fork lift is utilized to handle empty cargo carriers and to stack a pair of vehicle body loaded cargo carriers to form a loading unit which is subsequently transferred to a transport train freight car.

Abstract: A method of transferring an uncured composite laminate skin from a lay-up surface of a male mandrel tool to a female cure tool includes defining multiple vacuum zones on the lay-up surface, each zone corresponding to one of a multiple of portions into which the skin is to be separated. For example, to separate the skin into two portions, a low profile seal of a first membrane to the lay-up surface is formed at a first vacuum zone and a second low profile seal for a second membrane is formed at a second vacuum zone. The method further includes laying up a composite laminate skin over all the vacuum zones; separating the composite laminate skin into portions, for example, a first portion over the first vacuum zone and a second portion over the second vacuum zone; and releasing the portions individually into cure tools having an outside mold line surface.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a member using an absorbent medium or material and a reinforced member formed thereby are disclosed. Preferably, the absorbent medium absorbs a liquid material that cures to form a matrix material and the matrix material is employed to reinforce the member.

Abstract: Slide mounting tools are disclosed, including a magnetic slide mounting tool having at least one magnet for mounting a slide to a surface. In one embodiment, a first section of a slide can be magnetically coupled to the slide mounting tool and installed on a stationary component. In one embodiment, at least one magnet is oriented substantially vertically on the slide mounting tool for magnetic coupling with the first section of the slide during installation of the section on edge against a vertical surface. The magnetic mounting tool thus allows, for the first time, a user to not only magnetically couple a stationary component section of virtually any type of slide to a stationary component, but provides a design that allows an extension slide to be extended while clamped to the stationary component, thus allowing a single user to align, clamp, extend and install a stationary component section of a slide without any outside assistance.

Abstract: A hem joint for a vehicular closure structure assembled from stamped sheet metal includes an inner panel having circular raised anchor pins formed integrally with the inner panel prior to assembly of the inner panel with an outer panel. A flange formed from the outer panel is coined over each anchor pin so as to completely encapsulate an end portion of each anchor pin, mechanically interlocking the inner and outer panels.

Abstract: The presser (7, 107) for the axial pre-loading of the internal crowns (4) of the bearings, is co-axially inserted in the driver (9), with possibility of relative movement with respect to the same driver. The internal crown of the bearing which is resting on the flat reference surface (106) co-operates with a centring pin (306) which may be provided with movable and active members (10) useful for the same centring.

Abstract: A surface film structure of a metallic bipolar plate for fuel cells and a method for producing the same are provided. The method is firstly to perform flow channel machining on a bipolar plate, then to surface grind the plate so as to remove any oxide film on the plate, to degrease the plate by dipping the plate into an alkaline solution for ultrasonic cleaning, to remove from the alkaline solution and de-ionize the plate by de-ion water, again to dip the plate into a nitric acid, to de-ionize the plate after being removed from the nitric acid, to dip the plate into pure water for further ultrasonic cleaning, and finally to arrange the plate removed from the pure water into an ECM tank for forming a surface film on the plate with both chemical and electrochemical stability. The surface film including a Cr composition of 40˜75%, an Fe composition of 10˜30%, and an Ni composition of 15˜30% provides the metallic bipolar plate superior properties in corrosion-resistance, conductivity, and roughness.

Abstract: Conventional liftoff processes used to define track width in magnetic read heads can produce an uneven etch-depth of dielectric materials around the sensor and cause shorting to the overlay top lead layer. This problem has been overcome by printing the images of track width and stripe height onto an intermediate layer to form a hard mask. Through this hard mask, the GMR stack can be selectively etched and then back-filled with a high-resistivity material by using newly developed electroless plating processes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head manufactures a magnetic head having a base, and a laminate stacked on the base and including a magneto-resistive device. The method mechanically polishes a surface of a structure including the base and the laminate close to a magnetic recording medium, wherein the surface of the structure includes an end face of the laminate including an end face of the magneto-resistive device and a surface of the base. Next, the method selectively etches a first region on the surface of the structure close to the magnetic recording medium, wherein the first region includes the surface of the base but does not include the end face of the magneto-resistive device. Subsequently, the method entirely etches the surface of the structure close to the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improved methods and apparatus for forming undulated wire coils that are placed into the cores of dynamo electric machine components. In particular, the invention concerns improved methods and apparatus for controlling the direction of deposit (along the axis about which the coil is wound) for the turns of a wire coil and for positioning the leads of the coil. This is accomplished by forming a series of wire coils using a programmable apparatus that controls a sequence of directions (along the coil axis) in which the wire turns are deposited, as well as positions of the final leads. The same methods and apparatus may also be used to form continuously wound wire portions.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing fuses with an increased yield rate and in a highly automated fashion. The method comprises the steps of processing a metal sheet into a blank having a plurality of continuously distributed pairs of lead conductors, molding an insulator base integrally with each pair of the lead conductors, electrically interconnecting the lead conductors of the respective conductor pair with a fusible connector, and severing the lead conductors from the blank. Additionally, a protection cap is coupled to the insulator base in such a manner that the cap can enclose the fusible connector in its entirety.

Abstract: Electrochemical active cathode layers (MoO3, FeS2) are produced on the substrate of stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium by the method of thermal vacuum condensation-solidification. This method enables formation of active cathode layer in the wide thickness range of 0.5 ?m-3.0 mm.

Abstract: A tube expander for heat exchangers is capable of organizing an ideal production line where the transportation efficiency is increased and the productivity is improved by having a transportation path in a straight line, that is, applying a method where the heat exchangers are carried into one end of the tube expander (in the left and right direction) and carried out from the opposite end, that is, the other end (so called through-the-center method). The left and right ends of the end plate 9 at the front side are inserted by a pair of first guide bars 10, and the left and right ends at the back side are inserted by a pair of second guide bars 11. A guide path 2a for a carrying device 23 or a guide path 2a to install a transportation device, in either case, the heat exchangers are transported from one end to the other of the base 2, is established on the base 2 that supports the first guide bars 10 and the second guide bars 11 in a clearance between the first guide bars 10 and the second guide bars 11.