Abstract: A crib liner and method of lining an infant crib are provided that greatly reduce the risk of an infant injury resulting from an infant's arm or legs extending through the slats or rails or a crib. The crib liner is provided with a plurality of panels that can have a perforated section and a cushioned section. The plurality of panels may be separated into individual panels by a plurality of stabilizers. The crib liner may be attached to the crib by at least one fastener. The fastener may be located in any area that allows the crib liner to be removably secured attached to the crib.

Abstract: A body position and pressure control apparatus is provided capable of highly accurately detecting body pressure distribution without causing a sense of discomfort for a sleeper, changing body positions, and distributing body pressure. The body position and pressure control apparatus has a mattress provided with a plurality of divided portions and supporting a sleeper, an elastomer sensor, and a body pressure adjuster controlling each of the divided portions based on an instruction from the elastomer sensor and thereby changing the body pressure distribution of the sleeper. The elastomer sensor has a sheet sensor main body and a calculator, the sensor main body having an elastomer sensor thin film, a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of detectors corresponding to the divided portions provided between the electrodes.

Abstract: An infant mattress fits safely in a crib without any gap between the mattress and the walls or bars of the crib. A ring of memory foam surrounds the supporting foam layers of the mattress and forms a snug fit with the vertical bars of the crib regardless of whether the dimensions of the particular crib or mattress vary from their standard sizes. The memory foam ring intentionally renders the infant mattress somewhat larger than the inner dimensions of the crib. The ring compresses when the mattress is placed in a crib in which opposing side bars are separated by a distance that is smaller than the mattress width. The ring is formed by pouring foam into a rectangular mold around the supporting foam layers. Where the mattress includes pocket coils on the supporting foam layers, the ring of memory foam conforms to the outer row of pocket coils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fit-together type of precast concrete lining and bridging structural body in which main girders are integrated with deck plates. Precast concrete deck members connected in longitudinal and transverse directions are pre-stressed by pre-stressed members, thereby making it possible to increase load carrying capacity or rigidity of a structure to stably use the structure for a long time. Further, it is possible to support the load applied from the top of a deck structure with a small thickness, and to make the deck structure light. Due to a knockdown type (fit-together type), installation and dismantlement are easy, and reuse is possible, and thus it is possible to provide convenient construction and low production costs.

Abstract: An oral care implement with an air flossing system cleans debris from the teeth of a user. The oral care implement may include an oral care region having cleaning elements for engaging oral tissue. A body is provided for gripping the implement. An air source is disposed in the body for proving pressurized air to an air outlet. The air outlet is disposed in the oral care region for injecting the pressurized air to clean debris from the oral tissue.

Abstract: Roller for providing benefits to fabric. The present invention relates to utilizing one or more benefit agents in conjunction with a hand-held roller in order to provide one or more benefits to fabrics. The present invention also relates to a method for applying one or more benefit agents to the roller.

Abstract: A toothbrush with a cleaning zone with bristles, and with a deformable element by which the cleaning zone can be adapted to the shape of the tooth surface by the cleaning force, where the deformable element comprises flexible wings tapering in a wedge shape toward the cleaning zone and with guide elements between them, at least one of the wings and/or guide element is made of a compressible elastic material.

Abstract: An applicator for applying cleansing and stain removal chemicals to the outer surfaces of a gutter. The applicator includes a shaped head adapted to the contours of the gutter outer surface for applying the chemical evenly. The head carries an applicator pad which carries and deposits the chemical over the front and bottom surfaces of the gutter.

Abstract: A wiper blade (10) consisting of a rubber profiled element (48) comprising a wiper lip (50) and at least one carrier element (46) that can be connected to a wiper arm (18) by means of a fixing element (14) and a connection element (22). The fixing element (14) comprises a covering cap (16) and the connection element (22) fixed to the wiper arm (18) secures the wiper blade (10) perpendicularly to a pivoting axis (20) by means of a clip (52), on the end (54) thereof at an angle to the wiper blade. According to the invention, the covering cap (16) comprises an opening (34) or recess for the angular end (54) of the clip (52), on the side of the cap opposing the rubber profiled element (48), in the region of the connection element (22), said opening only partially overlapping the covering cap (16) in the mounted position.

Abstract: A portable vacuum wand for use with a surface maintenance machine, for collection of debris remote from the machine. The vacuum wand is detachable from a rear squeegee assembly of the surface maintenance machine, and includes a handle and a wand head. A vacuum conduit of the vacuum wand is adapted to be coupled to the rear squeegee assembly when not in use so as to provide vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a surface maintenance machine and a portable vacuum wand is also provided.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, and a stand moveable relative to the main body between a supporting position for supporting the main body in an upright position, and a retracted position. The stand includes at least one surface-engaging rolling member for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle when, with the stand in its supporting position, the main body is reclined rearwardly from its upright position. The appliance further includes a stand retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the stand in the supporting position and from which the stand is releasable upon application of a force to the main body. The stand retaining mechanism includes a system for increasing the force required to release the stand when the main body is reclined rearwardly from its upright position.

Abstract: A power tool includes a power tool housing at least partially encompassing an internal combustion engine and a harness on which the power tool housing is mounted. The harness has a pair of shoulder straps, a waist strap, and a panel connecting the shoulder straps and waist strap. The power tool housing is mounted on a frame having at least one arcuate tool-supporting member with an upper end proximate the shoulder straps and a lower end proximate the waist strap. The tool-supporting member is shaped along its vertical length such that a middle portion of the member arcs away from the panel such that there is an air-circulation space between the power tool housing and the panel. In one embodiment, the power tool is a blower and the housing has an air intake port facing the air-circulation space.

Abstract: A filter includes a filter medium, a filter inlet side, a filter outlet side and an indicator device. The indicator device is configured to be acted upon by air flow through the filter and is disposed adjacent to the filter medium and extends from the filter inlet side to the filter outlet side. The indicator device includes an air path starting from the filter inlet side, a viewing window covering the air path on the filter outlet side, and a flow-through usage indicator configured to receive filtered material and disposed in the air path and visible beneath the viewing window on the filter outlet side.

Abstract: It is presented a dust cup housing (11) comprising a filter assembly which comprises an outer filter (25) and an inner filter (24). The outer filter and inner filter are formed as receptacles and the inner filter is slidably insertable into the outer filter. In a mounted position the inner filter is arranged to be substantially fully inserted into the outer filter. The filter assembly further comprises a fixing member (40, 41; 50, 51; 60, 61) which is arranged to retain the inner filter in a predetermined displacement (d) position relative to the mounted position, in response to the inner filter being subjected to an extraction force for detaching the filter assembly from the dust cup housing. Thereby a user of the filter is in a convenient and intuitive way alerted that the filter assembly comprises more than one filter.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly includes a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member. The caster shaft housing contains a stator surface adjacent the caster wheel assembly. The barrier-traversing member with barrier contact surface is biasedly fastened to the caster wheel assembly. A braking surface member is attached to the barrier-traversing member opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the stator surface. In operation, the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the barrier-traversing member. The encountered obstacle elevates the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the stator surface of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly. Then, further forward movement of the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly allows the barrier-traversing member to elevate the caster wheel, transfer load to the caster wheel, and thereby more easily traverse the obstacle.

Abstract: A door stop for a sliding door includes rounded channel with a ball sliding into the rounded channel to hold a sliding door in place. The device of the present invention is smaller than conventional devices and, thus, minimize the hazard to horses getting lacerations from the larger sized conventional door holders. The device of the present invention is provided as a two-piece kit, the first piece fitting on the siding door and the second piece fitting on a wall, such that the first and second pieces fit together when the sliding door is closed, holding and/or stopping the door in place.

Abstract: The static air dam includes at least one mounting feature, which is preferably at least one hole or slot to allow a fastener, such as a screw, bolt, rivet, weld, or other similar attachment devices, to secure the air dam to a wall of a jamb channel. Air passage through the jamb channel is prohibited or at least substantially inhibited by the static air dam that is designed to approximate the size and dimensions of the cross section of the jamb channel. At least one side of the air dam includes a tab or similar structure for securing the free end of the curl spring of a curl spring balance. The air dam includes integrally formed reinforcing elements that either abut or are adjacent to the side walls of the jamb channel. The air dam preferably includes a pair of flexible projections for engaging ears on the curl spring carrier.

Abstract: A damped spring hinge is disclosed, which includes a shaft seat, a shaft, a sleeve, a sliding member, an elastic unit, a non-return valve, a throttle valve. The shaft seat has a seat body, wherein a shaft hole and a receiving hole are formed in the seat body. The shaft can be rotatably disposed in the shaft hole. The sleeve is received in the receiving hole. The sliding member can be slidably disposed in the sleeve. An oil reservoir is formed by the sliding member and the sleeve. The elastic unit is disposed in between the sleeve and the sliding member. The non-return valve is disposed in the oil reservoir, and the throttle valve is disposed on the seat body. Thereby, a self-closing action for the door can be generated, along with the damping effect by the hydraulic oil. A control device of the damped spring hinge is also disclosed.

Abstract: A locking hinge assembly for an injector is disclosed. The injector includes a forward handle member, a rear handle member and a hinge connecting the first and second members and defining an axis of rotation. The locking hinge assembly includes a hinge element slidable along the axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position. The hinge element is coupled to the forward handle member and the rear handle member at the hinge, and the hinge element includes at least one groove. Additionally, a locking element is provided and positioned about the hinge. The locking element is configured to be received in the groove such that rotation of the forward handle member and rear handle member about the axis of rotation is prevented when the hinge element is in the locked configuration.

Abstract: A cord lock guide for a blind operated by a blind cord, wherein the cord hangs in a loop from a blind head rail, and having a main body portion, formed of front and back panels, and junction portions extending between the front and the back panels, a cord passage defined between the front and back panels, a movable guide body between the front and back panels, a generally semi-arcuate cord guide surface defined by the guide body around which the cord may run, a guide body support extending from the guide body, a hollow sleeve secured between the front and back panels; and receiving the guide body support therein, a resilient member between the guide body and the sleeve, the guide body being movable towards the sleeve against the resilient member and, a cord abutment located between the front and back panels, and oriented so as to obstruct the cord from passing around the guide body, when the guide body is in a first position, and the abutment being out of obstructive engagement when the guide body is moved ag

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable coupling system comprising a base, a lengthwise member, and a buckle. The lengthwise member is fixably coupled to the base parallel to the lengthwise dimension and substantially medial with respect to the widthwise dimension. The buckle comprises a planar surface and a first and second hooked region extending from the planar surface oriented opposite one another. The first and second hooked regions and the planar surface define a partially enclosed region corresponding to the widthwise dimension and the base rise dimension of the lengthwise member. A gap in the partially enclosed region corresponds to a coupling between the lengthwise member and the base.

Abstract: A limited durability fastening for a garment. The garment is provided with fastening members which engage to close the fastening and the fastening members are provided with means for controlling the degradation of the closure strength of the fastening as it is opened and closed and thus the number of permissible closures of the fastening having a pre-determined closure strength. The garment is particularly useful when fitted to a foot where short life is desirable at low cost or to a garment where re-use is to be discouraged for either clinical or commercial reasons.

Abstract: A shackle is provided that is fixedly mounted to a surface. The shackle can have a body, a hasp, and a locking pin. The body can define at least one mounting bore that is configured for mounting the shackle to the surface. The proximal end of the hasp is configured to rotate relative to the body and the distal end of the hasp is configured to selectively engage the locking pin, such that an enclosed area is defined. A tethering device can be attached to the shackle via cooperative engagement with the selectively enclosed area.

Abstract: A headset cord holder comprises a body and a first groove built into the body configured to receive and releasably hold a headset cord. In some embodiments, the first groove has a diameter less than or equal to approximately 2 mm. In further embodiments, the body is integrally formed within the teeth of a zipper. In some embodiments the body comprises one or more of rubber, plastic and metal. In some embodiments, the body comprises one or more of stamped metal and molded metal. In further embodiments, the body comprises molded plastic. In some embodiments, the body comprises one or more additional grooves configured to receive and releasably secure the headset cord.

Abstract: A slide fastener where each fastener element includes an upper half element portion disposed at a first surface side of a fastener tape and a lower half element portion disposed at a second surface side of the fastener tape. The upper half element portion includes a first tape-sandwiching portion and a first head portion of a tapered form that extends from the first tape-sandwiching portion. The upper half element portion has a tapered portion that gradually decreases in a dimension between front and rear side surfaces, in the tape length direction, of at least the first tape-sandwiching portion as it goes upward. Each fastener element can be lightweight, and the fastener element can look like a metal fastener element.

Abstract: A replacement zipper slider includes upper and lower plates, which are held together by a threaded fastener extending from one plate to the other; the plates are urged apart by a spring between them, and the threaded fastener sets a maximum limit on the distance between the plates.

Abstract: Latching fastener with male and female parts configured to separatably latch. Several embodiments described, including one where the male part has a latch coupler, the female part has a bistable actuator and a plurality of latches with lower latch levers. To fasten, the latching fastener is configured so that when the female part is pressed down over the male part, the lower latch levers contact the latch coupler, the latch coupler pushes up the lower latch levers, causing rotation of the latches into a latched position. To separate, the latching fastener is configured so that in response to an actuator member of the bistable actuator moving from an upper to a lower stable position, the actuator member pushes down the lower latch levers, the lower latch levers rotate the latches to an unlatched position, and the lower latch levers push down the latch coupler, separating the male and female parts.

Abstract: A strap for a shoe has a first resilient and flexible fabric element extending from a first end to a second end and a clear flexible element substantially fixed at respective ends of the clear flexible element to corresponding ends of the first fabric element. Methods of assembly and of use are described.

Abstract: Coffin (2), which in its shape, function and its choice of material has a kind environment, but still is stabile, and with a lit (1), which in its design has means (7) for by an earth filling (6) to be able to be discharge (5) in to the coffin (2) and down against the body (4) there has to be buried, as the lid (1) in its edges (3) has a folding arrangement (7).

Abstract: A piezoelectric mirror device fabrication process, including: dividing a silicon wafer into a multiplicity of segments, wherein on one surface of said silicon wafer per segment, a pair of lower electrodes, a mirror portion positioned between said lower electrodes and a pair of mirror support portions adapted to join said mirror portion to said lower electrodes are formed of an electrically conductive material having a Young's modulus of up to 160 GPa and a melting point higher than that of a piezoelectric element to be formed later; stacking the piezoelectric element and an upper electrode on said lower electrodes; removing the silicon wafer in a desired pattern from another surface of said silicon wafer per segment, and obtaining a multiplicity of piezoelectric mirror devices by dicing said multiplicity of piezoelectric mirror devices into individual ones.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastening method and a fastening tool which can stably fasten a nut to a bolt securely and with a small dispersion at a desired axial force. A fastened member is fastened by inserting a bolt to the fastened member, thereafter temporarily fastening a nut and the bolt, pulling a leading end of a shaft portion of the bolt in an axial direction of the bolt, rotating the nut so as to screw into the bolt while elastically deforming the bolt so as to generate an axial force, and thereafter canceling the pulling of the bolt.

Abstract: A press for securing a captive screw assembly within a hole in a panel cover. The press is supported from the panel cover as it is operated and includes a tool for extracting the captive screw assembly from the panel cover hole when the captive screw assembly is no longer functional. The extraction tool engages a bottom end of the captive screw and severs the flare on the ferrule of the captive screw assembly that anchors the assembly to the hole in the panel cover. A captive screw assembly is also described that has a knurled end that anchors the captive screw assembly to a hole in the panel cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving a structure. The structure is supported on a carrier. The carrier comprises a platform having a first side and a second side, a movement system associated with the first side and configured to move the platform on a surface, a support system associated with the second side of the platform and configured to support the structure on the platform, and a leveling system configured to substantially maintain the structure in a desired orientation during movement of the platform on the surface. The carrier is moved with the structure over the surface. At least one of the movement system and the support system is adjusted to substantially maintain the structure in the desired orientation.

Abstract: A method of repairing an article includes removing an undesirable section of the article, attaching a repair section to the article at a location from which the undesirable section has been removed, and mechanically working the repair section to achieve a reduction in a cross-sectional area of the repair section.

Abstract: A tampon applicator barrel including a cardboard tube having a first end and a second end and at least one gripping structure defined from the cardboard tube proximate the second end is provided. The cardboard tube has a wall thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.020 inches, while the gripping structure has a height of up to about 0.035 inches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a structural element that consists of several components which are at least partly connected to one another. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing the motor vehicle seat according to the invention.

Abstract: A cardiac-valve prosthesis which can be used, for example, as a valve for percutaneous implantation. The prosthesis includes an armature for anchorage of the valve prosthesis in the implantation site. The armature defines a lumen for passage of the blood flow and supports a set of prosthetic valve leaflets, which, under the action of the blood flow, are able to move into a radially divaricated condition to enable the flow of the blood through the lumen in a first direction and a radially contracted condition, in which the valve leaflets co-operate with one another and block the flow of the blood through the prosthesis in the opposite direction. The armature includes, in one embodiment, two annular elements connected by anchor members having the capacity of projecting radially with respect to the prosthesis, and support members for the set of leaflets, the support members being carried by at least one of the annular elements so as to leave substantially disengaged the aforesaid lumen for passage of the blood.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the catheter by a multi-step process for increasing scaffold-catheter yield following a crimping sequence. Damage reduction during a crimping sequence includes modifying blades of a crimper, adopting a multi-step crimping sequence, and inflating a supporting balloon to support the scaffold during crimping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fastening first and second thermoplastic parts of a motor vehicle, the first part having a protuberance projecting from a face and the second part having an engagement surface, the method consisting in bringing the second part into contact with the face of the first part, in heating the protuberance, and in plastically deforming the protuberance towards the second part so that the second part is gripped between the face of the first part and an end portion of the protuberance.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rotor for an electric motor that includes producing a generally flat metal strip, bending one section of the strip relative to another section, and rolling the strip to form a cup-shaped shell.

Abstract: A method is for making an electrical inductor. The method includes forming a first subunit having a sacrificial substrate, and an electrically conductive layer defining the electrical inductor and including a first metal on the sacrificial substrate. The method includes forming a second subunit having a dielectric layer and an electrically conductive layer thereon defining electrical inductor terminals and having the first metal, and coating a second metal onto the first metal of one of the first and second subunits. The method includes aligning the first and second subunits together, heating and pressing the aligned first and second subunits to form an intermetallic compound of the first and second metals bonding adjacent metal portions together, and removing the sacrificial substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a touch panel is provided. A substrate having a touch-sensing region and a peripheral region is provided. A touch-sensing circuit layer including first sensing series, second meshed metal sensing pads, and peripheral circuits is formed on the touch-sensing region of the substrate. An insulating layer having first contact windows and second contact windows is formed on the substrate to cover the touch-sensing circuit layer. The first contact windows expose a portion of the second meshed metal sensing pads. A transparent conductive layer including second transparent bridge lines and transparent contact pads is formed on the insulating layer located in the touch-sensing region of the substrate. Each second transparent bridge line is electrically connected to two adjacent second meshed metal sensing pads through two first contact windows. Each transparent contact pad is electrically connected to the corresponding peripheral circuit through the second contact window.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a temporary substrate includes a jig having a table, a holding guide for positioning constituent members of the temporary substrate, a holding unit for holding the laminated constituent members, and a heater unit for performing a temporary bonding on the laminated constituent members, and further includes a drive mechanism for moving each member constituting the jig between a standby position and an in-use position. The holding guide has a plurality of step portions formed in such a manner that peripheries of the step portions define areas corresponding to outer sizes of the respective constituent members when the holding guide is moved to the in-use position. The temporary substrate has as the constituent members, a prepreg, inner metal foils respectively stacked on both surfaces of the prepreg and each having a smaller outer size than the prepreg, and outer metal foils respectively stacked on the inner metal foils and each having a larger outer size than the prepreg.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for terminating connectors onto a coaxial cable has an elongated body and an end stop and plunger on the body, the plunger being controlled by a lever arm which will axially advance the plunger toward and away from the end stop to radially compress a portion of the connector into firm crimping engagement with the end of the coaxial cable. To accommodate different lengths of connectors, a plunger permits mounting of different length adapter tips to vary the axial spacing between the adapter tips and the end stop according to the length of connector being terminated.

Abstract: A method for making an hermetic and electrically insulating feedthrough in the metal wall of a housing of a device, preferably of an active medical device, is disclosed. The method includes: a) forming electrically insulating layers (24, 26) on each of the internal and external sides of the wall (10), b) on the internal side of the wall, forming a non-through groove with a closed contour (30) defining in the wall a metal islet (28) that is physically and electrically isolated from the rest of the wall, by removing the entire thickness of the electrically insulating internal layer (26) and the wall (10), leaving intact a sufficient thickness of the electrically insulating external layer (24) so that the external layer mechanically supports the metal islet, and c) on the external and internal sides respectively, exposing pads (34, 36) for making an electrical contact to the metallic islet, by a localized removal of material of the electrically insulating external and internal layers (24, 26), respectively.

Abstract: A method of repairing a used electrode device is disclosed wherein a used electrode assembly has an inner conductor with an integral electrode tip; the inner conductor is encapsulated in an insulator body having an outer conductor and an outer electrode tip; and an outer sleeve is attached to the insulator body, the sleeve being filled with a particle suspended fluid and the sleeve being retained by a metal ring at the location of attachment to the insulator body prior to removing the inner conductor from the insulator body; the electrode assembly is placed in a fixture with a collet holding the metal ring in place; the sleeve is pushed upon to release the ring; and the inner conductor is pressed with the integral electrode tip while holding or restraining the insulator body to apply a force sufficient to disengage the inner conductor from the insulator body.

Abstract: A method for forming peristaltic pump cassettes includes cutting tubing segments to different lengths based on the physical properties of the individual tubing segments. The size variations compensate for the physical parameters of the tube and improve accuracy in a peristaltic pump using the cassettes.

Abstract: A method for machining a sealing seat of a shut-off valve in a power generating or industrial plant. An upper valve part and the internal housing fittings are removed from the housing of the shut-off valve to thereby expose a housing opening. A clamping device with a counter-bearing is introduced through the housing opening into the connection pipe and fastened to its inner wall. A machine tool with a bearing is introduced through the housing opening and mounted with its bearing on the counter-bearing. A machining step is carried out with the machine tool on the sealing seat. Then the machine tool is detached and removed through the housing opening. The clamping device is detached from the connection pipe and removed through the housing opening. Then, the upper valve part and the internal fittings are reattached to the housing.

Abstract: A paddle shift member 20 is positioned to the rear surface side of a wheel lower cover 12 by engaging the paddle shift member 20 to the wheel lower cover 12. The wheel lower cover 12 to which the paddle shift member 20 has been positioned is installed to the rear surface side of a steering wheel main body. Then the paddle shift member 20 is connected to the steering wheel main body by screwing a tapping screw T into the paddle shift 20 via the steering wheel main body from the front surface side of the steering wheel main body to which the wheel lower cover 12 has been installed. According to this method, the paddle shift member 20 is assembled to the steering wheel main body without inverting the core 11.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stabilizer bar for a vehicle includes cutting a stabilizer bar material having a round bar-shaped configuration, heating both end portions of the cut stabilizer bar material to be formed as leg bars of the stabilizer bar, rolling both side surfaces of each of both heated end portions of the stabilizer bar material so that both side surfaces are tapered, rotating the stabilizer bar material about an axis thereof between rollers to taper both remaining non-rolled side surfaces of each of both end portions of the stabilizer bar material to be formed as the leg bars of the stabilizer bar, so that each or both end portions of the stabilizer bar material has an elliptical cross-section, forming eyes on distal ends of the stabilizer bar material, and bending the stabilizer bar material into the shape of the stabilizer bar.