Abstract: A binding structure for binding a bundle of sheets and that includes a base and a pair of opposed position legs that are integrally formed with and extend from respective sides of the base. The pair of legs and base together defines a retention area in which the bundle of sheets is held. The pair of legs is constructed and arranged with a resilient bias toward each other, but separable to enable the bundle of sheets to be held therebetween under a biasing force. The legs each have at least one inwardly directed rib arranged for contact with opposed sides of the bundle of sheets, and a thermal adhesive layer is disposed on the base and upon which the bundle of sheets rests, to be later formed in a thermal binding machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a value document, such as bank note, passport or the like, which has a security paper and a marking produced with the help of a laser, the security paper having at least one partial area with a coating, and the marking extending over the border area between coating and security paper. Further, the invention relates to a security paper and methods for producing an inventive value document and security paper.

Abstract: A printed sheet product comprises a thin core having a pair of opposing major planar sides. A plurality of sets of variable data fields are printed on at least a first side of the core. One or more of the variable data fields of each set may be printed on the opposing second side of the core. Each set of printed variable data fields includes at least a first data field printed with a numeric code, the numeric code of each variable data field set being different from that of each other set printed on the first side of the core. Each set of variable data fields further includes a second data field printed with either a name and mailing address uniquely associated with a numeric code or with another representation of the numeric code. Where printed, the name and address of each variable data set differs from that of each other variable data set printed on the first side of the core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (30) for securing valuable articles, having a first layer (13), composed of cholesteric liquid crystal material, that is present at least in some areas, a second layer (14), composed of liquid crystal material, that is present at least in some areas, and a further layer (22), having a machine-readable feature, that is present at least in some areas and that is covered at least in some areas by the first and second layer composed of liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A document uses a chemically reactive security ink to facilitate security, making it more difficult to alter a genuine security document. The chemically reactive security ink masks a warning word or message on a security document. The hidden warning word or message is revealed when the document is subjected to chemical washing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a terminal and a method for making such a terminal for placing one or more fluidic conduits in communication. The invention comprises a conduit for transporting fluid having a proximal and a distal end and a substantially cylindrical housing with an axial bore and a proximal face, the proximal end of the conduit being housed within the axial bore with their axes parallel, and the bore being back-filled with a thermoplastic polymer, most preferably PEEK, liquefied and cooled providing for the conduit to breach the sealing face and the thermoplastic to bond the conduit and housing.

Abstract: A piping system comprising: a main pipe; a first pipe member connecting an equipment nozzle and the main pipe via a first bellows; a second pipe member connected to a side part of the main pipe; a third pipe member connected to the other end of the second pipe member via a second bellows; first and second tie rod support members fixed to the first and third pipe members; tie rods that interconnect the tie rod support members; and an anchor that sets a portion of the main pipe as a fixed point. Lengths of the pipe members between the tie rod support members are determined so that the first bellows contracts by thermal expansion of the equipment nozzle, the first pipe member, and the pipe member of the main pipe below the anchor, and the second bellows contracts by an amount equally to that of the first bellows.

Abstract: A device including a first member joined to a second member, the joining being carried out via a compliant material having an alloy with at least two materials selected from silver, gold, and palladium, the second member being a shrink ring of the first member.

Abstract: A system includes a knot tying device for tying a filament in a knot around an article and a filament delivery device from which is drawn the filament. The filament delivery device may be in the form of a cartridge having a housing sized and arranged to be releasably attached to the knot tying device where the housing has an opening through which pre-cut or loosely coupled lengths of the filament can be drawn. The knot tying device includes a shuttle attachable to the filament where the shuttle is caused to be moved during a knot tying process around an article to be tied and a device for at least pulling the filament away from the article at appropriate times during the knot tying process.

Abstract: A disclosed device for creating an item consisting of a series of links includes at least two posts spaced part from each other in a first direction with each of the posts including a first arm and a second arm and an access slot.

Abstract: A lid lock apparatus for a vehicle includes a retainer, a cap, and a lock pin. The retainer includes a fitting portion to which an end portion of the cap is configured to fit from an outside of the lid box towards an inside of the lid box and a first engaging portion formed to be positioned outward of the lid box relative to the fitting portion. The cap includes an operational lever portion configured to be elastically deformed to tilt by an operation at an outside of the lid box and including a second engaging portion configured to engage with and disengage from the first engaging portion.

Abstract: A lost motion cam assembly for a vehicle lock. The assembly includes a lever, pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between locked and unlocked positions. A motor drives a gear mounted to a shaft in the housing. A cam is also rotatably mounted to the shaft, and includes a pair of opposing cam arms. When a cam arm engages a first interaction surface on the lever, the lever actuates. A second interaction surface on the lever stops the cam. The cam is operably connected to the gear by a lost motion connection that defines a range of free travel of the cam relative to the gear. Manually pivoting the lever while one of the pair of cam arms is in contact with the first interaction surface on the lever causes the cam to rotate within the range of free travel.

Abstract: The door latch mechanism independently operated by first and second handles of the door handle assembly comprising a cam member having a cam surface which facilitates translation of movement of the handles to displacement of the cam member. The cam member can be coupled to a latch member and move the latch member between an extended and retracted position. A door lock mechanism can prevent displacement of the second door handle while simultaneously allowing displacement of the first door handle.

Abstract: A rub rail assembly for a side wall surface of a vehicle includes a cleat support having a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion has a first fastener receiving hole for fastening the cleat support to the side wall surface of the vehicle, and the second body portion has an engagement structure. The rub rail has a hook that is engageable with the engagement structure of the support cleat to permit the rub rail to hang from the support cleat.

Abstract: A bumper for a motor vehicle includes a crossbeam having a hat profile defined by a bottom wall, legs respectively adjoining the bottom wall, and flanges respectively extending from the legs. The hat profile has sections of varying cross sectional configuration in a longitudinal direction. A face plate closes the hat profile to define a hollow space, with the crossbeam being mountable with the face plate such as to point outwards. An upper one of the legs has a width which is greater than a width of a lower one of the legs in a center section of the crossbeam. The crossbeam has curved ends oriented in a direction of the motor vehicle, and the face plate includes in the center section a stiffening embossment which is oriented into the hollow space defined by the hat profile and the face plate.

Abstract: A cellular telephone support device for releasably holding a cellular telephone having a top edge and a bottom edge is provided. The support device comprises a main support member having a first side, a second side, a first edge, and a second edge. A slotted first opening formed in the first edge. A second slotted opening is formed in the second edge. A ring attachment is positioned on the first side. A first clamping member is slidably receivable within the first slotted opening. A second clamping member is slidably receivable within the second slotted opening of the second edge. Upon positioning the cellular telephone against the second side, the first clamping member is slidable against the top edge of the telephone and the second clamping member is slidable against the bottom edge of the telephone thereby releasably securing the telephone between the first clamping member and the second clamping member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connection fixture capable of attaching without the use of bolts to an upper portion of a structure to be lifted to facilitate the lifting thereof. In one embodiment, the connection fixture includes an outer angle iron and an inner angle iron attached in a vertically slideable relationship with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the connection fixture can be positioned to engage a plurality of holes in an upper horizontal lip of the structure to be lifted. In the closed position, the upper lip is securely captured between the outer angle iron and the inner angle iron. A shackle can be secured through holes in the connection fixture. In another embodiment, the connection fixture includes first and second planar elements between which can be captured an upper portion of the structure to be lifted.

Abstract: A material handling system for engaging and lifting transformer coils. Four leg assemblies are provided around a transformer. The leg assemblies have extensible plates which extend underneath the transformer. The leg assemblies are secured by chains to an overhead cruciform spacer which is coupled to a crane or other device. The leg assemblies may be bound together by straps to prevent movement of the leg assemblies relative to one another. For smaller or larger transformers, a lesser or greater number of leg assemblies may be used.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently lifting heavy trusses used in constructing buildings requiring a pitched roof. The use of this apparatus reduces the manpower requirement for constructing roofs by providing a J-shape cam-hook-lift-apparatus to latch onto a truss and use the power of a lifting mechanism, such as a crane, to raise and place the roof trusses into a predetermined position. Using this apparatus will reduce the amount of time needed to complete a roof assembly and increase safety for workers.

Abstract: An endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively low temperature is disclosed along with an endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively high temperature. Both endeffectors include a base member and uniquely designed support members that are configured to only contact a wafer at the wafer's edge. Further, the support members have an arcuate shape that generally matches a radius of a semiconductor wafer. More specifically, each support member has a curved wafer contact surface that tapers from a maximum radius at a top surface to a minimum radius at a bottom surface. The endeffectors may also include a wafer detection system. The endeffector for handling wafers at relatively low temperatures may also include a pushing device that is used not only to position a wafer but to hold a wafer on the endeffector during acceleration or deceleration of the endeffector caused by a robot arm attached to the endeffector.

Abstract: A recess has a proximal-end-side surface and a distal-end-side surface. When an intersection between a straight line included in the proximal-end-side surface and a straight line included in the distal-end-side surface is a base point, a line passing through the base point is a base line, a line between two claw portions, passing through an end point of the recess and orthogonal to the base line is an orthogonal line, the angle ? made between the base line, and the straight line included in the distal-end-side surface is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the angle ? made between the orthogonal line, and the straight line included in the proximal-end-side surface is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and the length d from the base point to the orthogonal line is greater than 0.

Abstract: A vehicle useful for catering, vending and food service normally has service windows on the passenger side of the vehicle to accommodate pedestrian patrons. Disclosed herein is such a vehicle fitted with an auxiliary service window on the driver's side of the vehicle to accommodate vehicular occupants. An auxiliary service platform is installed below interior floor level to place a server in closer proximity to an adjacent vehicle. Steps are provided to enable access to the auxiliary platform from the interior vehicle floor.

Abstract: A mobile structure includes first and second rigid frames and first and second horizontal roof supports supported by the rigid frame. Each of the rigid frames includes a first vertical support, a second vertical support substantially parallel to the first vertical support, and a lateral rigid frame support extending perpendicularly at least from the first vertical support to the second vertical support. The mobile structure further includes a floor under the first and second horizontal roof supports, a wheel-axle assembly under the floor, and leveling assemblies that are extendable away from the floor. Each leveling assembly is in weight-bearing and in-line relationship with respect to one of the vertical supports of the first rigid frame.

Abstract: A storage compartment configured to attach to a structure, and a method of assembling an instrument panel is provided. The storage compartment includes a base and a cover disposed above the base. The cover includes a first top portion, a second top portion, and a stop. The first top portion is fixedly mounted to the support portion of the base. The second top portion is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, in the retracted position the second top portion is substantially disposed over the first top portion, in the extended position, the second back wall of the second top portion is displaced from the first top portion. Once the second top portion of the cover is moved to the extended position, the stop engages the second top portion so as to prevent the second top portion from moving to the retracted position.

Abstract: A carpeted, automotive vehicle, load floor including a compression-molded composite panel is provided. A cover of the load floor covers a storage area of the vehicle and is pivotally connected to the composite panel. A substantially continuous carpet layer is bonded to the top surface of the panel and the top surface of the cover to at least partially form the carpeted load floor having a carpeted cover. A living hinge allows the carpeted cover to pivot between different use positions including open and closed positions. A decorative, noise-management covering layer is bonded to the bottom surface of the cover to reduce the level of undesirable noise in a passenger compartment of the vehicle in the closed position and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the bottom of the cover in the open position.

Abstract: A vehicle top includes a transparent or semi-transparent vehicle top panel adapted to attach to the vehicle and cover the passenger compartment, at least one pair of drip rails carried by the vehicle top panel on opposite sides of the vehicle top panel and at least one attachment mechanism carried by the vehicle top panel and adapted to attach the vehicle top panel to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle door having a window glass and a support element extending the window glass, the support element includes a door fastener for fastening the door to a body-in-white of the vehicle and a window glass fastener for fastening the window glass to the support element.

Abstract: A sliding retractable deck assembly is provided for use with recreational-type vehicles. The deck is adapted for use adjacent to and below the vehicle side door and is retractable by sliding back into place under the vehicle so as to be totally out of view and allow total use of vehicle door and all other components of said vehicle. A plurality of individually-adjustable ground-engaging leg members providing at least nine points of support for the deck thus allowing placement of the deck on uneven or sloping ground, while avoiding undue stressing of either the deck assembly or structural components of the vehicle.

Abstract: A recreational camper wind restraint system and method that includes a housing connected to a portion of a recreational camper, a recreational camper having a movable portion, the movable portion having a compacted position and an expanded position, a retractable belt having a first end rotatably contained within the housing and a second end operatively connected to the moveable portion, a winding means contained within the housing for operatively winding and unwinding the retractable belt longitudinally within a predetermined range of movement defined substantially by the compacted position and the expanded position of the moveable portion, and an energy-absorbing element adapted to cooperate with the retractable belt to absorb energy and temporarily lock the retractable belt in a fixed position when a predetermined force is exceeded by a wind condition.

Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adaptable for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus consists of a series of nesting shapes and/or frameworks that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure comprises a pair of inflatable substantially inelastic lobes. A single lobe can be mounted on each of the rear trailer doors of a standard tractor-trailer unit. Each lobe can be inflated or deployed to provide an aerodynamic substantially planar contour extending rearwardly of the rear end of the vehicle. The aerodynamic shape of the lobes with stable and substantially planar external surfaces for air to pass over can be created by a series of internal cords and flag sets extending substantially horizontally and vertically in an array from one side of the lobe to the other side of each lobe. When the lobes are deflated, the trailer doors can be opened and latched to the side of the trailer in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A front region of a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to an upper front region, a middle front region, and a lower front region. The upper front region includes, but is not limited to an engine hood, front regions of mudguards headlamps or driving direction indicators. The middle front region includes, but is not limited to an impact energy-absorbing region and has molding elements in driving direction. The molding elements interact with impact energy-absorbing, yielding structures. The yielding structures are plastically deformable. The lower front region includes, but is not limited to a molding apron. The lower front region is elastically deformable.

Abstract: A structure of a steering support member, which enables the reduction of vehicle interior noise and steering vibration by suppressing the fore-and-aft vibration of the steering support member by means of a C-shaped or U-shaped brace and by increasing the rigidity of the steering support member in the front of the driver seat side, and enables the setting of a vibration mode in accordance with vehicle types by fine adjusting the positions of the brace and a steering bracket and by selecting the rigidity of the brace.

Abstract: A front pillar for an automobile includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and a hollow member disposed between the outer and inner panels. Outer flanges of the outer and inner panels are overlapped with each other to form a closed void section and a seal attachment section. The seal attachment section includes a rear section reinforcing member and a front section reinforcing member sandwiched between the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels in a rear end section and a front end section, respectively, of the front pillar, and a gap channel formed to communicate with the closed void section by partially separating the outer flanges of the outer and inner panels at a central section of the front pillar. The reinforcing members are joined to an outer wall section of the hollow member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a front module for a motor vehicle, wherein the front module is in one piece and is composed exclusively of plastic.

Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base; a seat; a backrest; a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat and backrest, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between an upright position and a fully reclined position; a headrest that is positioned in front of an upper portion of the backrest; and a headrest mechanism attached to the headrest and to the reclining mechanism. The headrest mechanism is configured to move the headrest from a retracted position when the seating unit is in its upright position to an extended position when the seating unit is in its fully reclined position. In the retracted position the headrest is generally parallel with the backrest and in the extended position the headrest defines an angle with the backrest in which the front surface of headrest is rotated to partially face the front surface of the backrest.

Abstract: There is provided a seat back device including: a seat back that is placed on a rear side of a vehicle cabin and has a movable portion that is movably disposed in correspondence to a lower back region of a seated passenger and a forwardly collapsible portion that is forwardly collapsibly disposed on a vehicle upper side of the movable portion; a frame member that is disposed inside the seat back and in which is formed an open portion that has a size including the movable portion and the forwardly collapsible portion and that makes the vehicle cabin and a luggage compartment communicate; an angle adjusting mechanism which adjusts the movable portion about an axis along a vehicle width direction to a predetermined angle; and a trunk-through mechanism which forwardly collapses the movable portion and the forwardly collapsible portion from the seat back and opens the open portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object in a vehicle may have an elongated frame, a clamp member mounted to the frame at or near one end thereof, and an elongated base member movably mounted to the frame between the clamp member and an opposite end of the frame. The base member may include a curved portion having a support surface defining a curvature and a linear portion between the curved portion and the clamp member. The base member may be movable relative to the frame to an object transition position in which a free end of the linear portion extends outwardly away from the frame and the curved portion retracts upwardly toward the clamp member along a path defined by the curvature to allow the object to be received between, and removed from between, the clamp member and the support surface of the base member.

Abstract: A backrest structure for a motorcycle that is structured to be simply movable, yet made inoperative at all times except when an occupant intends to move the backrest. A backrest is disposed on a seat rail and includes operation levers for raising and lowering the backrest. The operation levers are disposed in the seat rail disposed downwardly of an occupant's seat.

Abstract: A vibration seat (20) comprising a seat body (22), a sitting portion (24) supported by the seat body, and a vibrator (4). The sitting portion (24) is free to vibrate relative to the seat body (22). The vibrator (4) is connected to the sitting portion (24) at a single node (1) and is free to move relative to the seat body (22).

Abstract: A back support adjustment system including a flexible suspension system having an adjustable and interchangeable flexing means positioned in between a frame and a support member. The back support adjustment system further includes an adjustable back support system having a housing integral with a back support surface and a tension assembly movable within the housing. Both the tension assembly and the adjustable back support system are adapted to engage the frame so that the movable tension assembly adjusts the tension of the adjustable back support system and the adjustable flexing means controls movement of the flexible suspension system.

Abstract: A chair includes a seat and a supporting structure associated for positioning of the seat in an orientation in which the seat has a downward inclination towards its front edge. The supporting structure includes an elongate member on each side of the chair, each member extending substantially continuously between the seat and a rearward region of the chair via a floor-engaging region of the supporting structure. Each elongate member has a generally loop-shaped configuration, with the seat end region of the elongate member overlying the opposite end region of the elongate member, and has an inherent resilience with a bias in which the seat end region is spaced from the opposite end region in the unoccupied state of the chair and the seat has the desired forwardly-downward inclination, wherein the resilience is selected such that the seat end region approaches or comes into engagement with the opposite end region when the chair is occupied.

Abstract: An apparatus for sitting, including: a keystone assembly which connects various parts of the apparatus; a back that provides support for at least a person's back or shoulders; a floating lumbar support, which provides support for a person's lower back, attached to the keystone assembly; a seat that can adjust between a forward tilted and reclined position; a plurality of rollers, disposed on the keystone assembly, on which the seat rests; a central column, attached to the keystone assembly, on which the seat can spin; and a lower torsion spring connected to the seat and disposed on the keystone assembly allowing controlled movement of the seat.

Abstract: A linear recliner assembly in use with a seat having a seat back pivotally engaged relative to a seat bottom. A housing exhibits a communicating interior between a first and second ends. A drive rod is supported in linearly displaceable fashion from the first end and is secured to the seat bottom. The second end pivotally engages the seatback spaced from its pivot point. A rotatable gear located at a fixed lineal position within the housing receives the drive rod in threadably inter-engaged fashion. A trigger mechanism pivotally secured to the housing exhibits a downwardly biased detent communicating through an opening in the housing to seat between succeeding teeth of the gear. A spring supported within the housing contacts the drive rod. Upon release of the detent, a reclining force applied to the seatback results in displacement of the housing against the drive rod to bias the spring.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a juvenile vehicle seat includes a base providing a seat bottom, a backrest extending upwardly from the base, and a movable headrest. The headrest is mounted for up-and-down movement on the backrest. The juvenile vehicle seat also includes a headrest-height controller configured to control the height of the movable headrest relative to the backrest.

Abstract: An armrest assembly is provided for adjusting an armrest of a seating unit in three degrees of motion. The armrest assembly includes an angle-adjustment mechanism that allows the armrest to pivot and to translate forward, and a lift mechanism that enables vertical articulation of the armrest. The angle-adjustment assembly includes a pivot bracket with a downwardly disposed pin and a shuttle with an arcuate slot to receive the pin. The arcuate slot includes contoured walls that form detents for restricting movement of the pin, thereby restraining rotation of the shuttle, with respect to the pivot bracket, to predefined angular positions. The lift mechanism includes a rack with ride element(s) extending therefrom and locking teeth, and a control bar with track(s). An upward manual actuation of the control bar causes the track to shift laterally and retract the locking teeth, via interaction between the track(s) and ride element(s), respectively.

Abstract: A child safety seat has a seat back with an upper end, a back side, and a front facing side. A harness system has a pair of safety straps each with a back portion on the back side and a shoulder strap portion on the front facing side. A router is on the back side and has a fixed upper guide, a fixed lower guide spaced below the upper guide, and a slider vertically movable therebetween. The back portions are routed from the respective shoulder strap portions through the slider, up to the upper guide, down to the lower guide, and back up to the slider. The slider is vertically adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position and determines the height of the shoulder strap portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for horizon control in a mining operation where fresh product 3 is cut from a seam 1. The cutting exposes a fresh cut product face 25. The fresh cut product face 25 is observed at a position immediately adjacent a cutter 11. Any temperature contrast regions from an IR observation between an upper limit of observation and a lower limit of observation are noted. At least one height co-ordinate position of a temperature contrast region 33 is determined and an output signal provided of the determined height co-ordinate position so that the output signal can be used as a horizon datum for horizontal control.

Abstract: A machine configured to travel across a surface is disclosed. A material removal mechanism is configured to remove material from the surface. A frame supports the material removal mechanism. A conveyor is configured to receive the material and to convey the material to a location off of the machine. A pivotal connection includes connectors connected to the frame and conveyor, respectively, which are configured to mate with one another to allow pivoting of the conveyor relative to the frame.

Abstract: A chain link assembly, a cable chain assembly and a mining system. The cable handler individual links may include an enclosed section for the fiber optic cable separate from other services for the machine. A flexible material or other structure may assemble the fiber optic cable in the cable handler in a manner in which it “snakes” about the centerline to provide ample slack in the fiber optic cable to, for example, prevent over tension.