Abstract: A hand tool such as a folding knife incorporates a blade stop pin that stops rotation of the blade in the open position. The stop pin defines a multifaceted face having plural surfaces, each having a radial distance from an axial centerline that is different from adjacent surfaces. Rotation of the stop pin allows for adjustment of the stop position of the blade.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle portion and a blade pivotally coupled to the handle portion for pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position. The knife can include a locking mechanism that retains the blade against pivoting movement when it is in the open position. In particular embodiments, the blade is coupled to the handle portion such that the application of pressure to the blade in a predetermined direction causes displacement of blade relative to the handle portion in the plane within which the blade pivots. The displacement of the blade relative to the handle portion is effective to release the blade from the locking mechanism and allow the blade to be pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: A safety knife for cutting lines or straps, comprising a handle, a base arm, an extension arm and a cutting arrangement, where the extension arm curves from the base arm to establish an opening between the base arm and the extension arm, and where the cutting arrangement is arranged in the opening, wherein the base arm is arranged with an angle between a longitudinal direction of the base arm and a longitudinal direction of the handle.

Abstract: Hairdressing scissors include a pair of identical scissor elements, wherein a first scissors element has a plurality of teeth that alternate between a tall tooth and a short tooth, each tooth having a front and a rear shearing face. The second scissors element includes a plurality of notches formed therein, with the teeth on the first scissors element complimentarily meshed within the span of the notches when the two elements are closed. When hair to be cut is introduced between the elements, the shearing faces cut the hair in a series of point cuts that correspond with the locations of the teeth, leaving the cut hair with varying short and long lengths that are accomplished with only one cutting action of the scissors, rather than with a series of point cuts that would have had to have been performed with conventional hairdressing scissors.

Abstract: A rotary mowing member having a universal nut set for connecting a transmission shaft comprises a mowing rotary member provided with an axial screw hole and a nut set consisting of a plurality of converter nuts. Each of the converter nuts has a screwed outer wall and a screwed inner hole, and thereby it can be secured within the screw hole of the mowing rotary member. The inner hole of each of the converter nuts can retain a transmission shaft of a lawn mower. The inner caliber of the converter nuts varies over the converter nuts for matching lawn mowers of different transmission shafts.

Abstract: A utility knife for glaziers and sheet rock workers has a two-part handle. The handle clamps a detachable reversible knife blade at a transverse angulated position with respect thereto. Vertical cuts can be made in tight corners without applying excessive force. The transversely angulated knife blade affords access permitting vertical cuts in tight corners. During cutting the user's hands are displaced from the cutting line, and kept from being inline with the cutting blades, thereby preventing injury.

Abstract: A shaving blade unit includes a plastic housing having a front portion and a rear portion and two side surfaces extending from the front portion to the rear portion. The housing has a length extending from one side surface to the other side surface. Positioned between the front and rear surface of the housing are one or more shaving blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes. A guard at the front portion of the housing includes an elastomeric member that extends along a guard axis that is parallel to the respective one or more blade axes. The elastomeric member has a length along the guard axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length.

Abstract: A power tool, such as a reciprocating saw, including a spindle for supporting a tool element, a body defining a pivot axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end, and a grip connected to the rearward end of the body for pivoting movement about the pivot axis. The reciprocating saw may include a locking assembly for locking the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body and a switch assembly at least partially supported on the grip. The switch assembly is preferably inoperable when the locking assembly is in an unlocked condition, and the locking assembly preferably cannot be moved to the unlocked condition when the switch assembly is in an operating condition. Also, the reciprocating saw may include a grip portion provided by the body and engageable by the operator's other hand.

Abstract: A mechanical scribing apparatus with controlling force of a scribing cutter for adaptively separating each unit of thin film solar cells formed on a single substrate, which is always capable of performing a predetermined minute scribing of a work in accordance with a wear loss of a scribing cutter. This apparatus is provided with a scribing means for placing a scribing cutter having a cylindrical body tapered at a specified tapering angle and having a flat tip face at a specified surface position of the work, pressing the cutter with a specified pressure force to the surface of the work and moving the cutter on the surface of the work, a means for measuring the size of a flat tip face of the scribing cutter and a means for variably controlling the pressure force of the scribing cutter in accordance with the measured size of the flat tip face of the cutter.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a power tool such as a jigsaw, circular saw or mitre saw which is provided with guideline generating means. The guidelines are typically generated as laser beams and the invention allows for the generation of at least first and second, side by side guidelines. The guidelines are generated onto the workpiece and the area which lies between the guidelines defines the path along which a cutting blade of the power tool is to be directed. Preferably the guidelines are spaced such that a first guideline lies to one side of the blade and the other guideline lies to the other side of the blade thus allowing the guidelines to be viewable on both sides during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A laser marking device includes a fixture for temporarily attaching the device in an initial cutout of a number of serial cutouts to be fabricated in adjacent assembled I-joists. Combined with the fixture is an angle gage that provides angular positioning of a marking laser. The angle gage is configured to hold the laser with its beam coinciding with the marking origin of the initial cutout, which in case of circular cutout may be the reference center at which the pilot drill of the hole saw is centered at the begin of the cutout operation. The marker laser may be horizontally and/or vertically oriented together with an eventual alignment laser and an eventual target marker temporarily affixed on the I-joist where a final reference point is determined for an axial orientation of the cutouts across the I-joists.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic compass assembly includes calibrating magnetic field sensors to produce a calibration product and determining whether a magnetic interference condition exists based upon the calibration product. In one example, the calibration product includes a calibration ellipse. In another example, the method includes determining a first length of time that corresponds to a duration of a magnetic interference condition or a second length of time that corresponds to an elapsed time after the magnetic interference condition. A portion of the electronic compass is controlled based upon the first length of time or the second length of time.

Abstract: An example method for controlling an electronic compass includes determining compass tracking angles in a coordinate system for magnetic field data points that correspond to magnetic field sensor signals produced as a vehicle rotates relative to a surrounding magnetic field. The magnetic field data points produce an expected curve in the coordinate system. The rotation of the vehicle is tracked relative to the surrounding magnetic field based upon the compass tracking angles and whether the vehicle has rotated a desired amount is determined based at least partially upon the expected curve and the compass tracking angles.

Abstract: An electronic compass assembly includes a first collection portion and a second collection portion that each collect magnetic field data. The magnetic field data collected by the second collection portion partially overlaps the magnetic field data collected by the first collection portion. A processor module determines a calibration output based upon the magnetic field data from the first collection portion if a first predetermined condition exists and determines the calibration output based upon magnetic field data from the second collection portion if a second predetermined condition exists. An example method for controlling the electronic compass includes calibrating the electronic compass based upon one of a first magnetic field data set or a second, partially overlapping magnetic field data set.

Abstract: A generally L-shaped spirit level vial having a vertical portion that is perpendicular to a horizontal portion. Both the vertical and horizontal portions fluidly interconnected so that the same, combined vial can be used either horizontally or vertically. Thus, only one of said vials need to be calibrated.

Abstract: A level end cap for protecting a level body from damage. The level body having a first end. Defined within the first end is a plurality of holes therethrough. The end cap having an internal portion and an external portion. The external portion for protecting the end cap. The internal portion having extending therefrom an internal flange. Extending from the internal flange is a plurality of detents configured for extending through the plurality of holes in the body, thereby locking the end cap on the level body.

Abstract: A carpentry tool having a body, at least one bubble vial, a first marking indicia mark and a second marking indicia mark. The body generally parallelepipedal in shape, having a first end opposite a second end, a top level side opposite a bottom level side and a front face side opposite a back face side. The top level side having a measurement scale which sequentially increases in value from the first end to the second end. The bubble vial mounted within the level body, the bubble vial for indicating when a flat level side is oriented in a substantially horizontal position, the level bubble vial viewable through the front face. The marking indicia marks sixteen-inches or twenty-four-inches apart thereby signifying to a user the on-center measurements of wall studs.

Abstract: A mount table having a mount surface on which a workpiece as an object to be measured or worked includes a support unit for supporting the mount table so as to be floated from a surface plate so that the mount table can freely move or rotate on the surface plate finished to be plane or fixing and supporting the mount table on the surface plate and a plurality of artifact for measuring a plurality of attitudes on the mount table to detect the positions and rotations of the mount table in respective attitudes.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for measuring a human head. The apparatus disclosed herein involve the use of linear rulers, or rotating contacting members, coupled to a support member. The apparatus disclosed herein can be positioned on a human head, using the methods disclosed herein, to determine the outer contour of the head. Such a measurement can aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of various abnormalities of the human head, including plagiocephaly.

Abstract: Siding having an integrated measuring system that can be concealed from sight upon completion of a project. The siding includes an exterior surface, a first distal end, a second distal end, and a first measuring initial printed on the exterior surface by a printing process during fabrication of the siding. The first indicia extends from the first distal end to the second distal end and divides the siding into measuring units. A user can measure and cut the siding material without using a separate measuring device.

Abstract: A compact tape measure device having a plurality of independent reels supplied with different conversion scales for architects and engineers allows an architect or engineer to convert linear measurement scales on drawings and blueprints, the device providing three or more reels of incremental measured tape having printed scales on an upper surface and lower surface of each tape, allowing for at least twelve different measured scales provided to either convert feet to inches of differing converted scales or metric to U.S. measurement scale.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drying unit for washing machines that is capable of fully drying the wet laundry using hot wind. A condensing duct and a drying duct are connected to a tub to circulate air in the tub. Between the drying duct and the condensing duct is disposed a drying fan. To the condensing duct is attached air cooling device for condensing air in the condensing duct by means of cool air. In the drying duct is mounted a drying heater for heating air in the drying duct to change the air into hot wind. During the drying operation of the washing machine, the air passing through the condensing duct is condensed by air, which is an unlimited resource. Consequently, consumption of energy and resources is minimized during the drying operation of the washing machine.

Abstract: There is provided a container (2) for absorbing water vapour from ambient air, the container having an opening (8) to permit water vapour to enter the container, a perforate shelf (14) positioned above the base of the container and having a water-absorbing agent disposed thereon for absorbing water vapour, and an airway (26) which allows air to flow into the region of the container beneath the shelf, wherein the shelf comprises a non-planar surface on which the water-absorbing agent is disposed.

Abstract: A clothes dryer comprises a cabinet, a drum rotatably installed within the cabinet and accommodating clothes to be dried therein, a drum rotation device for rotating the drum, an air circulation device installed in the cabinet, for sucking external air and thereby introducing into the drum, and discharging air that has passed through the drum to outside of the cabinet, a heater for heating air being introduced into the drum, and a filtering device for filtering external air being introduced into the cabinet. According to this, foreign materials included in suction air introduced into the clothes dryer are filtered, thereby preventing clothes inside the drum from being polluted and preventing components inside the clothes dryer from being damaged.

Abstract: A heater fixing unit of a drum-type washing machine is provided. The heater fixing unit more stably supports a heater installed in a dry duct to reduce vibration and a noise of the heater. For that purpose, the heater fixing unit includes a duct body, a heater, two or more fixing parts, and two or more clamp members. The duct body communicates with an inside of the drum. The heater is installed in an inside of the duct body to heat an air flowing in an inside of the duct body. The fixing parts protruded from two or more positions on an inner surface of the duct body. The clamp members fixedly support the heater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing the solvent content from a biodegradable polymer in a composition or a preparation. The process comprises drying the biopolymer composition by submitting it to microwaves for a time to achieve removal of the solvent at desired levels.

Abstract: The present application describes a system for drying substrates which includes a chamber and an inner vessel having an upper edge positioned within the chamber. Process fluid is directed into the inner vessel and allowed to cascade over the upper edge. The upper edge of the inner vessel is lowered to thereby lower the cascade level across the surface of the substrate, while a drying vapor is introduced into the chamber. As the cascade level descends across the surface of the substrate, the substrate surface is exposed to the drying vapor. Megasonic energy may be directed into the inner vessel to accelerate drying using boundary layer thinning.

Abstract: The application relates to an apparatus for conditioning a tobacco product having a transport pipe through which a process gas flows and which has a feed section having a feed opening for feeding in the product and a following drying section, characterised in that the transport pipe has dividing means for dividing, before the feed opening, the stream of process gas into a substream picking up the product and a substream which is substantially product-free and for bringing the substreams together at the beginning of the drying section so that the product is introduced into the drying section in the inner region of the transport pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and processing method for drying lumber, for example two-by-four studs in an environment in a kiln in a manner to avoid warping, including crook, bow, cup and twist. The lumber pieces are stacked in a normal manner with stickers for providing air flow between courses of the lumber pieces, and the stack is dried while a horizontal force is provided to the respective courses of lumber in the stack to hold the individual pieces of lumber in edge to edge contact throughout the drying, equalizing, conditioning and cooling process for first drying of lumber, redrying of lumber or in a treatment process for removing warp from previously dried lumber. A vertical force comprising a weight or other force generating device can be also applied to the stack of lumber to augment the overall reduction in warpage if so evidenced.

Abstract: A method and a system for treating betula wood to change the coloration thereof to resemble that of Cherry wood or heartwood of birch is described. The betula wood is introduced in treatment chamber which is under atmospheric pressure. Hot steam from a steam generator is introduced in the treatment chamber in a lower section thereof for subjecting the betula wood to be treated to a hot water vapor environment. The temperature and humidity levels in the treatment chamber are controlled over a time span until the betula wood is completely saturated with water and has obtained a desired color transformation. This color transformation is uniform throughout the thickness of the wood and thereby hi-lights the grain in the betula wood while at the same time changes its color whereby it resembles Cherry wood or heartwood of birch. The treated wood is then cooled in the treatment chamber and removed therefrom for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a drum of a clothes dryer having a drum for accommodating clothes to be dried in a cabinet, the apparatus comprises: a driving motor for generating a driving force to rotate the drum; and a roller connected to a rotational shaft of the driving motor and contacting an outer circumferential surface of the drum, for transmitting a driving force of the driving motor to the drum. According to this, a reliability of an operation for rotating the drum can be increased.

Abstract: Step air foil particularly for one-sided flotation of a running web, and web dryer incorporating the same. The air foil includes two discharge slots which allow for increased draw down force, which flattens machine direction wrinkles in a floating web. The air foil includes a primary discharge slot and a second discharge slot spaced from and stepped down from the primary discharge slot, a first web support surface between the primary discharge slot and the secondary discharge slot, and a second web support surface downstream of the secondary discharge slot in the direction of web travel. The air foil is in communication with an air supply which provides a supply of air that is uniformly distributed to the primary and secondary slots. Air discharged from the primary slot is gathered into the air stream of the secondary slot and creates an increased air cushion to provide greater support to the moving web and thereby remove machine direction web wrinkles caused by higher tension in light weight webs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a apparatus and method for providing a shoe with an upper and a sole having a top surface, where the upper is integrally formed with the sole and where the top surface has a plurality of notches. The invention further includes a footbed having a bottom surface and being removably placed on the top surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of channels. The plurality of channels are placed in communication with the plurality of notches for ventilating the shoe.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A garment for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep includes a circumferential sidewall having an upper end, a lower end, and a circumferential lower portion near the lower end. When the garment is worn, the upper end encircles the user’s leg, and the lower position surrounds the user’s foot and shoe portion that surrounds the foot. The lower portion has a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe, whereby the lower portion is spaced away from the user’s shoe during at least part, if not all, of a user’s footstep. In this fashion, the garment creates an enlarged chamber for muffling sounds generated by the user’s footstep.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a shoe having a sole with a top surface, a fore area, and a rear area. The shoe also includes a lip extending above the top surface and around a periphery of the fore area of the sole and around a periphery of the rear area of the sole. The shoe further includes an upper with a fore area and a rear area and being in contact with the lip. A first stitch is used to connect the fore area of the upper to the lip proximate to the fore area of the sole and a second stitch is used to connect the rear area of the upper to the lip proximate to the rear area of the sole.

Abstract: A low-cost orthosis for the treatment of toe injuries is disclosed. The orthosis is a bilateral, monolithic structure molded from polymeric foam material and having an upper portion adapted to surround the heel, dorsal portions, and toes of a foot, and a lower portion forming an outsole. The outsole has a wedge-shaped, proximal portion which elevates the forefoot, the proximal portion terminating in a cylindrical radius positioned beneath the ball of a user's foot. The distal portion of the outsole is recessed so that during use the orthosis can pivot on the fulcrum formed by the previously described radius, as would occur during ambulation, without the distal end of the orthosis contacting the floor. An insole, formed by the upper surfaces of the outsole of the orthosis is generally planar with a distally positioned recess in the area of a user's toes.

Abstract: Footwear, in the category of a sandal, and which may include a thong, slide-on, clog, or related structured sandal, wherein one side or the other of a tongue, upper vamp, or sandal strap may be adhered to an upper part of the sandal sole, or its vamp or cross strap, so that one side of the sandal strap structure may be displayed during its wearing, and can be turned to expose its opposite surface for varying the styling of the worn sandal. The tongue, upper vamp, or strap may be secured by a fastening device, such as a swivel, that allows for turning of these components to expose a selected surface in order to vary the aesthetics and appearance of the worn sandal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective assembly (1) for a limb, in particular the shaft-forming part of a motorcycle boot, which is designed to protect the tibia of the motorcyclist. The inventive assembly comprises: an essentially tubular body (2) comprising a slit, which extends along a longitudinal axis (6) and which is designed to fit around the limb; a rigid tongue (10) which is designed to cover the front part of the body and which extends along both sides of said slit; and a flange (12) which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction between the edges of the slit, said flange being adjustably-connected to the body on either side of the slit so that the distance between the edges can be adjusted. The aforementioned tongue is mounted to the flange such that it can slide freely and the tongue and the body co-operate in order automatically to align the tongue in relation to the slit.

Abstract: A pair of indicia that aid a child in orienting shoes or any article of wearing apparel that has a first section for one appendage and a second section for another appendage. The first indicium is an image that indicates a first direction while a second indicium indicates a second direction. The second direction is substantially collinearly contradictory to the first direction. Children know that shoes or articles of wearing apparel are properly oriented when first indicium and the second indicium are substantially collinearly contradictory.

Abstract: A shoe with an upper, a midsole, and an outsole is provided with a spinner element rotatably mounted to at least one of the upper and the midsole. The spinner element is mounted for free rotation and generally defines a plane of rotation substantially parallel to the shoe at a point of attachment of the spinner element to the shoe.

Abstract: The sports shoe comprises a transparent or translucent wall comprising a decoration on its inner face.

Abstract: A music shoe includes a shoe body for covering a person's foot, and a sound control unit installed in the shoe body. The sound control unit has a control circuit board with a voice database containing voice data, a speaker electrically connected to the control circuit board for voice output, and a plurality of buttons respectively electrically connected to the control circuit board and partially exposed to the outside of the shoe body for pressing by an external force to trigger the control circuit board to output a corresponding voice signal through the speaker.

Abstract: A thin, lightweight, ventilated foot orthotic is formed of a strong, resilient thermoplastic material with a contoured shape providing arch support partially spaced above the insole of the foot wear in which the foot orthotic is used.

Abstract: A display arrangement 10 made of card with a pair of windows 18. A movable carrying member 30 is provided bearing two images 30 selectively viewable through the respective windows 18. The arrangement 10 is configured such that a one of the images 38 is viewable through a respective window 18 when the carrying member 30 is moved in a first direction, and the other image 30 is viewable through the other window 18 when the carrying member is moved back in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Portable cards that facilitate timely and consistent repositioning of bedridden patients include a base having a generally rigid, rectangular configuration with first and second planar surfaces. Indicia is provided on the first planar surface in a table of two columns and twelve rows. The first column includes sequential two-hour time segments of a twenty-four hour day and the second column includes patient positions. Accordingly, each row in the table includes a time segment and a respective patient position. Each patient position indicates orientation of a patient relative to a room in which the patient is located.

Abstract: A picture holder includes a supporting device having two downwardly and outwardly extended flaps, and an upper panel coupled between upper portions of the flaps, to form an inverted U-shaped and stable supporting structure. A loose-leaf binder device is engaged onto and secured to the upper panel of the supporting device, and includes two or more binder rings for detachably attaching photos, and for allowing the pictures or the posts or the photos to be easily changed with each other. The pictures or the posts or the photos may be displayed and seen from both sides of the picture holder.

Abstract: A sliding sign is movably mounted on an overhead truss which extends over a roadway. The sliding sign is mounted on rails connected to the top and bottom chords of the truss so that the sign may be moved from a position over the roadway to a position adjacent the shoulder of the roadway so that necessary maintenance may be performed on the sign without the need for lane closures of the roadway.

Abstract: A label has a film and an adhesive, as with a common bracket label. The label is divided into two functional regions (A) and (B) by a separating line. One region essentially supplies information, for example, by imprinting, and the other region assumes the hanging function of the bracket. Region (B) is generally designed to be non-adhering or provided with means for reducing the adhesive action. In this manner, the bracket can be detached quickly from the labeled object with use, and no adhesive region is bared upon detachment. A lower film lies under the first film and is preferably connected with the first film by an adhesive. The lower film is provided with a further separating line slightly offset to the separating line between the two functional regions.

Abstract: A holder for displaying a generally stiffly flexible, thin advertising placard in association with a merchandising fixture exhibiting merchandise for sale, has an elongated shank, anchoring means at one end of said shank for detachable affixation to the fixture, and at the other end a three-dimensional head for reception of the placard. The head has at least one substantially linear slot extending across a portion of its periphery and inwardly into its interior, the slot having a thickness exceeding the thickness of the placard and a depth sufficient to receive a marginal portion of said placard.

Abstract: A picture frame assembly enables the user to hang picture frames with any desired orientation. When many frames are to be hung, a mounting track having a raised rail is affixed to a wall. A support disc member has fixed and spring biased teeth to grip the rail at a desired location. Mounting means on picture frames cooperate with an arcuate mounting surface on the support disc for mounting the frames with a desired orientation. A support disk may also be mounted directly on the wall. Side bars may be employed as frame side extenders to adjust the outer configuration of a frame.