Abstract: A height-adjustable chair column includes a vertical post axially extending along a longitudinal axis, a bottom plate, a guide cylinder bushing permanently inserted into the upper end area of the vertical post, and a guide tube inserted in the guide cylinder bushing so that it is guided with freedom of axial movement and secured against rotation in the guide cylinder bushing. Further, the chair column includes a lockable gas spring assembly with a pressure cylinder, which is installed coaxially in the guide tube such that it is secured against axial displacement relative to the guide tube and it is free to rotate about the longitudinal axis, and with a piston installed in the pressure cylinder with freedom of sliding axially. The piston is connected to a piston rod which is fastened to the bottom plate and supported there with freedom of rotation about the longitudinal axis. Moreover, a height-adjustable foot rest is attached to the upper end region of the guide tube.

Abstract: A mounting plate assembly for mounting accessories on a structure of a boat. The assembly includes a plate having a first clamping end and a second clamping end and two clamping units each having a respective first member and a respective second member for clamping to the plate. One of the clamping units clamps the first clamping end of the plate and the other of the clamping units clamping the second clamping end.

Abstract: A mold for producing a ceramic heat shield element having a mold shell is provided. The mold shell comprises a plurality of mold surfaces and a casting aperture for pouring in a ceramic material. The mold shell is embodied as a single-piece mold shell during casting, and the casting aperture is embodied as an aperture in one of the mold surfaces. Separating or retaining elements enable graded or reinforced heat shield elements to be produced.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for use in conjunction with a pneumatic valve assembly of the type which includes an airway having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve disposed within the airway and configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, comprises a first actuator coupled to the valve for moving the valve between the open position and the closed position in a first operational mode, and a second actuator coupled to the valve for opening the valve in a second operational mode.

Abstract: The electromagnet includes a valve-opening side coil portion supplied with a current to thereby generate a first magnetic flux and generate electromagnetic force in a direction moving the valve-opening side moving element toward a valve-opening position, and a valve-closing side coil portion supplied with a current to thereby generate a second magnetic flux and generate electromagnetic force in a direction moving the valve-closing side moving element toward the valve-closing position. The valve-opening side coil portion and the valve-closing side coil portion are constituted of an identical connection. The electromagnet further has a sub-coil constituted of a separate connection from the valve-opening side coil portion and the valve-closing side coil portion. By the current supply to the sub-coil, a third magnetic flux reducing at least one of the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux is generated.

Abstract: A description is given of a connecting device for tubes for medical use having a connection element (7) comprising a main body designed to be attachable to the end of a first tube, and a shut-off element made of an elastically deformable material and at least partly housed inside the main body, to allow or prevent, as required, fluid communication through the main body. The shut-off element has a longitudinal axis of symmetry and is designed to deform symmetrically. Also described are a tube and a peritoneal dialysis line using the connection element described above.

Abstract: A male luer connector device that attaches to any standard female luer valve to open a flow channel between the two luers. The male luer is comprised of a tubular housing element, a resilient member contained within the housing and extending within an inner tubular portion defined in the housing, a resilient member that extends within the inner tubular portion of the housing, and a valve member attached to the resilient member that seals the tubular portion. When the male luer is engaged with any standard female luer, a female luer connector device drives the resilient member of the male luer into a compressed position to open the forward end of the male luer and permit liquid flow between the luers.

Abstract: A needle free medical connector includes a housing with a first port and a second port. The connector also includes a piston element defining a fluid passageway between the first and second ports. The piston element is movable between flow and non-flow positions. The piston element has a compressible section having a variable inner width that forms a part of the flow path through the connector. As the piston is compressed to the flow position, the compressible section self-expands in width thereby maintaining or increasing the volume of the fluid passageway through the connector. The compressible section has a configuration permitting the continuous flow of fluid through its entirety.

Abstract: A controlled rate feeder system for fine particle solids and a method thereof includes a seat-and-backseat structure, a seat plate assembly, a backseat plate assembly, at least one biasing device, and an actuator assembly. The seat-and-backseat structure has an inlet and an outlet which are connected together by at least one passage. The seat plate assembly is moveable to any position between covering and exposing the inlet. The backseat plate assembly is positioned adjacent to and moveable with the seat plate assembly. At least one biasing device is positioned between the seat plate assembly and the backseat plate assembly which biases the seat plate assembly and the backseat assembly apart. The biasing device also biases the seat plate assembly against an inner surface of the seat-and-backseat structure and the backseat plate assembly against another inner surface of the seat-and-backseat structure. The actuator assembly moves the seat plate assembly to any position between covering and exposing the inlet.

Abstract: A gate valve for controlling fluid flow, in which a valve body forms a cylindrical flowbore and includes a gate cavity intersecting the flowbore to provide opposed openings into the flowbore. Seat pockets are formed in the opposed openings, each with a radial base and a side wall, and may optionally include metal carrier ring sealed in the seat pockets. The gate is slidably movable within the valve body between open and closed positions. Annular seat elements are mounted in each seat pocket for limited axial movement on opposite sides of the gate, with a first seal surface for sealing against the seat pocket or optional carrier ring, and a second seal surface for sealing against the gate. A non-metallic bridging seal formed as a face seal is provided between the first seal surface of the annular seat element and the seat pocket (or optional carrier ring).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling valve movements in an internal combustion engine that has at least one inlet valve (12) and at least one exhaust valve for controlling the connection between the combustion chamber in the cylinder and an inlet system and an exhaust system respectively. A rotatable camshaft is provided that has a cam curve including a rising ramp (10a) and a falling ramp (10b) that is designed to interact with a valve mechanism (14) for actuation of the inlet or exhaust valve (12) under the action of a valve spring (13). The valve mechanism (14) includes control members (21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) that allow return movement of the valve mechanism to be controlled during the closing phase of the inlet valve (12) or the exhaust valve, independently of the falling ramp (10b) of the cam curve.

Abstract: A fencing system includes a vertically elongated post mount mountable on a foundation and one or more post inserts mounted on the post mount to provide a stable structure for fastening thereto rail mounting brackets and associated rails. Each post insert extends outwardly from the post mount and typically abuts an inner surface of a hollow post. Fasteners extend from the rail mounting bracket through the post and into the post insert to provide a strong connection for the mounting of the rail mounting bracket and rail. The post inserts may be mounted on the post mount without tools. One of the post inserts serves as a spacer for setting the height of associated rail mounting brackets and rails. The spacer may include two members which are removably connected to one another via a friction fit to provide various benefits.

Abstract: A column for the thermal treatment of mixtures which contain one or more polymerizable compounds is proposed, which column has dual-flow trays with openings whose diameter is constant within a dual-flow tray, the dual-flow trays having openings of decreasing diameter with increasing distance from the feed of the mixture to be treated.

Abstract: Breathing assistance apparatus including humidifier (4) and heated conduit (6) adapted to deliver humidified gases at desired and accurate level of humidity to patient. Humidifier includes controller (18) that delivers flow rate, temperature and humidity of gases and then determines required power input to deliver gases as required. Need for external sensors is dispensed with providing simple and less bulky apparatus.

Abstract: Adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assemblies, bikes using such assemblies, and methods of use are provided. One such adjustable height bicycle seat mounting assembly includes first and second tubes in telescoping arrangement. The first tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame and the second tube is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle seat. A bulkhead is disposed in one of the first and second tubes. The bulkhead has an orifice therethrough, with a rod extending through the orifice and coupled to a movement device disposed near an end of the second tube. The first and second tubes are axially adjustable relative to one another by regulating a flow of a fluid disposed in the first and second tubes.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting internal pressure of a gas lifter includes measuring a variable opened angle of an openable object, such as a hood, a trunk lid or a tailgate, using an angle sensor, and adjusting the internal pressure of the gas lifter according to the measured opened angle of the openable object. The present invention helps a user easily open or close the openable object.

Abstract: A vehicle roll-rod includes a front insulator, rear insulator, rod, front stopper, rear stopper, and middle stopper. The roll-rod restrains and attenuates rolling of relatively small movements occurring during driving. The vehicle roll-rod also restrains and attenuates rolling of large movements occurring in the event of a force of impact and vibration during rapid accelerations, sudden stops, or turning on/off the ignition key of the engine.

Abstract: A hydraulically damping rubber bush bearing suitable for absorbing cardanic loads in the vertical installed position and yet has a simple geometry and construction. The bearing has chambers receiving the damping agent and has an undercut in the direction of the bearing axis at least in the area of one of their axial ends. An inner cage and the elastomeric bearing body are axially shortened in the corresponding circumferential section compared to the rest of their circumferential sections.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device includes: a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting first and second mounting members; a partition member supported by the second mounting member; a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the elastic body and having a non-compressible fluid sealed therein; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible film and having the non-compressible fluid therein. The chambers are formed to either side of the partition member and an orifice passage permits a fluid communication between the two chambers. A short-circuit passage is formed so that the pressure-receiving and equilibrium chambers are able to be short-circuited through the short-circuit passage. A valve is used for switching the short-circuit passage, and a metal spring is used for holding the valve in a closed state at a predetermined initial level of elastic deformation.

Abstract: A coupling for resilient interconnection of two objects, especially a wheel axle housing and a chassis of a vehicle. The coupling comprises an elongated supporting piece (50), which extends in a longitudinal direction and two end attachment portions (52, 54) and a central portion (56). The coupling also comprises an elastic element (60), which is arranged around the central portion (56) and has an approximately cylindrical outer surface (64) and two end surfaces (68, 70). The coupling further comprises a first and a second abutment member (82, 84), where the first abutment member (82) has a bottom (90) and a tubular portion (86), which is fixed to the bottom (90) and has an open portion and a cylindrical inner surface (98). The bottom has a trough-going hole (106) through which one end attachment portion (52) can extend. The second abutment member (84) has a hole (108) through which the second end attachment portion (54) can extend.

Abstract: A ratchet clamp is proposed, said clamp comprising a first limb with a first handle member and a first jaw member; a second limb with a second handle member and a second jaw member; a pivotal bearing for the relative pivotal movement of the first limb and the second limb; and a ratchet mechanism for fixing relative pivotal positions of the first limb and the second limb; wherein the first jaw member is mounted on the first limb in displaceable manner.

Abstract: Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. A conveyor belt is arranged at an angle with the processing tray so that the front end side of the sheets is positioned higher than the rear end side thereof and the conveyor belt on the front end side of the sheets is projected from the processing tray. By doing this, frictional force of the conveyor belt with the sheets of paper P on the rear end side is made smaller, and frictional force with the sheets of paper P on the front end side is made larger, and the ejectability of sheets from the processing tray after ending of the post process is improved.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus is disclosed, having a first path that guides paper to a processing tray; a second path in which the paper is set aside; and a transportation unit that transports the paper. The paper handling apparatus sets aside a preceding sheet of the paper in the second path, and transports the set-aside preceding sheet of the paper with a following sheet of the paper. The paper handling unit includes: a branching unit that, when the paper is transported in the second direction, leads the paper to the second path; a paper detection unit provided in a more upstream position than the branching unit; and a control unit that determines timing in which the paper is transported in the second direction based on an output of the paper detection unit, and causes the transportation unit to transport the paper to the second path.

Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. The storage tray and the waiting tray are positioned, providing a gap between the waiting tray and the upper surface of the bundle of sheets held on the storage tray.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a multi-function machine includes a scanner unit scanning data recorded on a sheet of document and a document transport part to transport the sheet of document. A printer unit prints data on a sheet of paper for an output and includes a carrier including a print head with an ink jet nozzle mounted thereon to carry out the printing operation by moving the print head. The driving apparatus includes a driving motor, a scanner driving part driving the scanner unit, a printer driving part driving the printer unit, and a power switching part disposed with the driving motor, the scanner driving part, and the printer driving part. The power switching part selectively transmits a power of the driving motor to at least one of the scanner driving part and the printer driving part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feed tray, which is attached to the apparatus body so as to be freely opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body, and a paper pressing plate disposed inside the apparatus body. The paper feed tray has a pair of protrusions on the inner surfaces of the side walls thereof. The paper pressing plate has a pair of notches formed by partially cutting the side portions of the plate so that, when the paper feed tray is in the closed position, the protrusions of the paper feed tray are received in the notches and the side faces of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed face the protrusions in a manner that are almost in contact with the protrusions. When a force acts on the paper feed tray in the closed position to bend inward the side walls of the paper feed tray, the protrusions are pressed against the portions of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed so as to stop the inward bending of the side walls.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus includes a sheet feeding device for feeding a document from a sheet feeding tray; a transport device for receiving the document from the sheet feeding device and transporting the document to a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus; a sheet discharging device for discharging the document to a sheet discharging tray; a switch back path for turning the document upside down and reversing a front end and a rear end thereof, and for subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device; and sheet discharging path for turning the document upside down, and subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device. A control device controls such that the document is transported to the switch back path and returned from the switch back path to the platen via the sheet discharging path.

Abstract: A device for reversal of direction of planar letters has two cover band conveyor runs with reversible transport direction, driven by a common drive roller. The letters are distributed alternately on the cover band conveyor runs. The back-transported letters are led into removing cover band transport means. The drive roller is controlled such that on introduction of a following letter into a cover band conveyor run the preceding back-transported letter has already accelerated to the nominal speed, the braking process only being initiated when the rear edge of the relevant letter has left the introducing cover band transport run and the preceding letter is no longer held in one of the controlled and reversible cover band conveyor runs.

Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for paper collations having an accumulation chamber for receiving sheet material, the chamber defined by a fixed guide on one side, a movable guide on the other side and a movable stop member at one end. Rollers are included for driving the sheet material against the stop member, and gates are provided for moving the movable guide between a first position in which it is spaced from the fixed guide by a gap sufficiently small to prevent buckling of the sheet material as it is driven by the rollers against the stop member, and a second position in which the movable guide is spaced away from the fixed guide for discharge of the sheet material from the chamber.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus with a skew feed correcting device including a first guide supporting one side edge of the sheet, an aligning device provided in the first guide and having an abutment portion and a first roller pair for causing the sheet to abut the abutment portion, a contact-separation device for separating and contacting the first roller pair, a second guide supporting the other side edge of the sheet, a positioning device for moving the first guide in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a second roller pair downstream of the first and second guides, a slide device for moving the second roller pair in the direction, and a sheet detector.

Abstract: A sheet material feeder includes a sheet material holder for holding a pile of sheet material, a rotating drum for transporting the sheet material from the pile, and an acceleration device receiving the sheet material from the rotating drum at a first speed and releasing the sheet material at a second speed greater than the first speed. Also disclosed is a sheet material feeder with a sheet material holder for holding a pile of sheet material; and a rotating drum for transporting the sheet material from the pile, the rotating drum including at least one sucker rotating with the drum for contacting the sheet material.

Abstract: A game machine includes a bed, a marble launching device fitted to a front end of the bed, a game plate supported on a rear section of the bed, and a bottom plate positioned under the bed; the game plate slopes up rearwards, and has several through holes thereon for allowing marbles to pass through; the marble launching device is used for launching marbles onto the game plate through a front section of the bed; the bottom plate has a marble receiving area, which projects out beyond a front end of the bed; the bottom plate has several lengthways extending trenches thereon therefore marbles will roll to the marble receiving area along the trenches when they fall through the through holes of the game plate.

Abstract: The support for a drive motor of image-bearing rollers in amusement machines constitutes an assembly allowing for its removal with regard to a general support (8) fixed to the machine, constituted of a base (1) on which the motor (2) is fixed, which has lugs (7) projecting from the base which are coupled in necks (9) arranged for that purpose on the general support, in combination with a laminar portion (12) of said base which is housed in a groove (11) arranged in the general support, said base locking to the general support by means of a tilting side arm (13) hinged to the general support, which establishes an electric contact by means of a pin connecter (4) arranged on the respective side of the base of the motor for the feed thereof, the base having in the upper part a removable handle (5) coupled by locking on said base for its gripping and removal.

Abstract: An octave magic cube has a spherical center core with square slider plates mounted at end of a six-arm cross center piece. A pattern of space channel is formed between the slider plates. Seven movable cubic block pieces having a triangular retainer plate mounted at the center of a partial spherical depression formed in one of its corners. The movable cubic block pieces are mounted to the core by slidably engaging the retainer plate with the space channel of the core. An eighth cubic block piece has a mounting plate with a clover leaf pattern is snap-mounted to the space channel of the core at the remaining position of the cube after the seven movable cubic block pieces have been mounted to the core.

Abstract: A musical game for facilitating learning of musical concepts has a game board with, for each player, a player set of musical symbols inscribed thereupon. Players draw cards which define tasks which must be completed in order to progress in the game by marking musical symbols, with a marker, in their respective player sets on the game board. The first player to mark each symbol in the players respective set is the winner. Additional cards are also provided to direct movement of tokens, one for each player, on spaces on the game board, inscribed thereupon as a partial piano keyboard. A player may become a conductor by marking instruments inscribed on the board with the markers. A conductor has increased opportunities to mark symbols in the respective player set and thus of winning the game.

Abstract: A game may include a game board having a player-piece pathway of connecting player-piece spaces, and a plurality of player pieces. In some examples, the game board may include a disruptor pathway extending through one or more player-piece spaces, and the game may further include a disrupter adapted to travel along the disruptor pathway.

Abstract: A pachinko machine board includes a game board on which nails, a start chucker, a big prize winning port and prize winning ports are fixed and a projection mechanism formed for projecting projection light from the rear surface of the game board to display images for a game on the game board. The game board includes a game board main body made of a light transmitting material so as to display the images for a game and nail fixing parts formed separately from the game board main body and attached to the game board main body. The nails, start chucker, big prize winning port and prize winning ports can be fixed to the nail fixing parts.

Abstract: The firearm target assembly includes a target mount, an upper target assembly, and a lower target assembly. The target mount is clamped to a support beam. Two vertical spaced apart ears extend rearward from the rear of the mount. An upper target assembly and a lower target assembly both have a flat metal disk attached to a shank with a shank free end. The free end of the upper shank is pivotally attached to the ears for pivotal movement about an upper horizontal axis. The free end of the lower shank is pivotally attached to the ears for pivotal movement about a lower horizontal axis. The upper target moves from a vertical position to a horizontal position upon being struck by a bullet and forces the lower target to a ready position. The lower target returns the upper target to a ready position upon being struck by a bullet.

Abstract: A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap.

Abstract: A pneumatic prize dispensing system for an arcade game. The game includes a pneumatically-controlled method of suspending and controlling the movement encapsulated prizes within a vertically-oriented transparent tube by means of differential air pressure. A player controls the vertical position of the prize by means of a pneumatic control valve. The object of the game is to control the position of the prize capsule to match a target position zone presented to the contestant via a set of visual cues for a predetermined period of time. The game dispenses the encapsulated prize or alternatively, prize tokens, if the game-winning criteria are achieved.

Abstract: A multipart oil wiping ring for pistons of internal combustion engines comprises two steel strip-type lamellae with parallel sides, the running surfaces of which are provided with a convexly asymmetric shape having a vertex line that extends across the circumference of the lamellae, and a bracing spring located between the lamellae. The bracing spring presses the lamellae in an axial direction against one respective side of an annular groove in the piston and in a radial direction against the cylinder wall.

Abstract: In mounting a combined oil control ring in a ring groove formed in a piston, the combined oil control ring is mounted in a form that an opening between but ends of an oil ring body is widened. In such an operation, it is likely that a coil expander falls off the oil ring body thus making the mounting operation cumbersome. To overcome such a drawback, a relationship L1<L2 is established. Here L1 means a axial distance between open peripheries of the groove portion and L2 means a maximum axial distance between peripheries of the groove portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oil control ring for pistons of internal combustion engines. The aim of the invention is to provide an improved shape-adaptation capacity in comparison to prior art, with a tangential force that enables the ring to guarantee low friction and also low oil consumption during the operation of the engine. To achieve this, the inventive oil control ring comprises a solid bearing surface that lies against the cylinder wall, in addition to parallel ring flanks, between which a radial recess that runs around the periphery is configured in the rear of the ring, said recess being designed to receive a coil spring. The peripheral region of the ring flanks is provided with undulating end faces that face towards the rear of the ring. Said undulating end faces of the upper and lower ring flanks are offset out of phase with one another.

Abstract: A manifold gasket includes a carrier frame with a plurality of media-conveying openings corresponding to openings communicating between two parts to be clamped, such as an intake manifold and a cylinder head. Elastomeric sealing material is molded to the carrier frame about the openings to seal the openings when clamped. A compression limiting device is disposed on the carrier frame and is isolated from direct contact with the carrier frame by intervening elastomeric bonding material to limit compression of said elastomeric sealing material when the gasket is clamped between the head and block. The elastomeric bonding material renders the compression limiting device free-floating relative to the carrier frame.

Abstract: A metal laminate cylinder head gasket has a first metal plate having a first notched portion, a second metal plate having a folded projection extending therefrom, and a middle metal plate having, adjacent to the first notched portion, a second notched portion. The middle metal plate is clamped between the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The folded projection is located such that in an area defined by the first and second notched portions, the first and middle metal plates are clamped by the folded projection. The gasket combines the function of a shim for adjusting the thickness of the gasket, and the function of affixing the metal plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sealing material for an ant groove, wherein the sealing material is easy to fit to the ant groove and little involves a phenomenon such that the sealing material unfavorably slips out of the ant groove in the form of remaining fixing to the opposite member when the sealed place is opened, and wherein the sealing material can exercise the good sealing function. The sectional shape of the sealing material has: a straight bottom edge 34 which is disposed on a bottom face of the ant groove 12; an arched convex edge 31 which contacts with the other member 20; a first projecting edge 33 which projects outside; a concave inlet portion 39; a second projecting edge which is composed of straight lines 35, 36 that project outside; a straight sloping edge 38; and at least one corner portion 37a-c which is constituted in the range of from the straight bottom edge 34 via the second projecting edge 35, 36 to the sloping edge 38.

Abstract: An assembly generally comprises a collet for receiving a cutting tool shank and a lock nut for creating a gripping force between the collet and the cutting tool shank. The collet has a nose and the lock nut has a front face that is substantially flush with the nose. The lock nut further has a fastening element that mates with a fastening element of a coolant sealing ring for attaching the coolant sealing ring to the lock nut so that the coolant sealing ring may be detached from the lock nut.

Abstract: A sensor for a height control system uses a transducer to detect changes in position of an arm relative to a vehicle and sends a proportional signal to a microprocessor that, in turn, actuates a pneumatic valve operably connected to an air spring between the arm and the vehicle. The transducer includes an optical bridge, a variable capacitor, or a flexible variable resistor.

Abstract: A wheeled skate that includes a skate frame and a plurality of wheels disposed along that frame. A turnable wheel assembly is provided that includes two paired wheels, each supported by a movable axle. The turnable wheel assembly is preferably configured such that the paired wheels maintain a parallel relationship and a fixed distance from one another as the skate moves between varying degrees of turning. This configuration permits the paired wheels to be positioned close together. The axles may be supported by movable support members that move in parallel planes. Various embodiments are disclosed including the incorporation of two turnable paired-wheel assemblies in one skate.

Abstract: A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap.