Abstract: An alternating current impedance-estimating section (106) estimates an alternating current impedance (Rh) of the secondary battery based on electric current (I) and voltage (V) of the secondary battery detected when a ripple generating section causes a ripple current to flow in the secondary battery. A temperature estimating section (108) estimates the temperature (T) of the secondary battery based on the alternating current impedance (Rh) estimated by the alternating current impedance-estimating section (106) with the use of the relation, obtained in advance, between the temperature (T) of the secondary battery and the alternating current impedance (Rh) of the secondary battery at a ripple frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for thermal sensor power savings using a toggle control. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit (e.g., a memory device) includes an on-die thermal sensor, a storage element (e.g., a register), and toggle logic. The toggle logic may transition the thermal sensor from a first power consumption level to a second power consumption level responsive, at least in part, to a toggle indication.

Abstract: A thermoelement for measuring the temperature in gaseous or fluid media by means of one or more thermocouples comprising wires of different metals welded together which give off a resulting electrical voltage when heated and are configured as a measuring insert arranged in an insulating rod disposed in a heat-resistant protective tube that can be connected to a connection head, the protective tube being wholly or partially surrounded by a holding tube. To prevent a high input of heat which has an unfavourable effect on temperature measurement, the holding tube is supported against the protective tube at a radial distance from the protective tube, and a heat-resistant trace and optionally an insulating material are inserted between the protective tube and the holding tube, and the holding tube is attached to the connection head and/or the protective tube in one or both end areas and is provided with thermal insulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus which includes a support construction (1) supporting a substantially ring-shaped structure (2), an O-arm (2), which in turn supports imaging means (21, 22) and which O-arm (2) is arranged with an examination opening (4). The imaging means (21, 22) are arranged movable within the O-arm (2). The cross-section of an outer cover (3) of the O-arm (2) in a direction perpendicular with respect to the central axis of the O-arm is arranged for its predominant portion substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle but to comprise a cut, within the sector covered by which cut the distance from the center of said arch of the circle to the edge of the outer cover (3) is shorter than within the portion of the outer cover (3) being substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle.

Abstract: A method is provided for storing a cooked food in a flexible-walled container having an opening. The method includes placing a quantity of food in a flexible-walled container and submerging at least a portion of the container in a liquid with the opening being located so that liquid does not enter the opening. At least the lower portion of the container is maintained in the liquid and the food is maintained in the container below the surface of the liquid. The liquid collapses the container to seal the container. The temperature of the liquid may be maintained at a non-ambient temperature to heat or cool the food as it is stored. The method may also include storing the food adjacent a work surface, or at a remote main vat and transporting the rack to the work surface at which a serving that includes the food is prepared.

Abstract: Apparatus 10 has breachable flow conduit 12 for discharging stored fluid 12F contained in storage chamber 10C out to the ambient. Chamber access region 10R is positioned proximate perimeter 10P of the apparatus. The breachable flow conduit is within the access region, and has an inner end 12C proximate the storage chamber and an outer end 12P proximate the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit has outer pressed seal 14P between the outer end of the flow conduit and the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit also has inner pressed seal 14C between the inner end of the flow conduit and the edge of the storage chamber. The flow conduit expands towards the perimeter of the apparatus under external pressure, typically applied by the consumer. The pressure causes the flow conduit to breach at the perimeter of the apparatus. The flow conduit also expands towards the storage chamber. The pressure causes the flow conduit to breach at the edge of the storage chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly (1) for a rotatable shaft (2). The bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing (10); a bearing (20) located within the bearing housing (10) and arranged in use to receive a rotatable shaft (2); and an elongate member (14) that couples the bearing (20) to the bearing housing (10) for damping vibrations of the rotatable shaft (2). The elongate member (14) comprises a piezoelectric element (40) which may be actuated so as to exert a force on the elongate member. This arrangement allows the bearing assembly to damp vibrations of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding plug and to a sliding element. The sliding plug, which is inserted into a carrier body of a sliding element, comprises a circumferential surface that has at least one rib extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sliding plug. The sliding element, which is provided with such sliding plugs, preferably comprises a receiving hole having a small-diameter section and having a large-diameter section.

Abstract: A slide rail device includes a guide rail, a slider slidable along the guide rail, and a pair of cylindrical roller train sets disposed at two opposite sides of the guide rail. Each cylindrical roller train set is disposed between the guide rail and the slider, and has a plurality of cylindrical rollers. Each cylindrical roller has a first roller surface portion and a second roller surface portion that is recessed relative to the first roller surface portion. The first roller surface portions of the cylindrical rollers are in rolling contact with the guide rail and the slider, and the second roller surface portions of the cylindrical rollers are free of contact with the guide rail and the slider.

Abstract: A guide rail that includes a base rail having a channel therein and at least one finger extending from a portion of the channel. The guide rail further includes a race insert mounted against the at least one finger. In an embodiment of the invention, the race insert has a first and second raceway associated with the at least one finger extending from a portion of the channel. Further, the first and second raceways have different load transmission directions, wherein the load transmission directions of both the first and second raceways are oblique to the direction that the at least one finger extends from a portion of the channel.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing includes a housing defining a central axis, a pad slidable relative to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, a cylinder defined in one of the housing and the pad, a lubricant port in fluid communication with the cylinder, and a piston at least partially positioned in the cylinder. The piston is movable within the cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a flow of lubricant through the lubricant port to vary an axial spacing between the pad and the housing.

Abstract: A thrust sliding bearing 1 includes an synthetic resin-made annular bearing body 5 having an annular upper surface 2, an annular outer peripheral surface 3, and an annular lower surface 4; a synthetic resin-made annular bearing body 7 having an annular lower surface 6; a sheet metal-made reinforcement member 10 having an annular lower surface 8 and an annular upper surface 9; a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 11 interposed between the annular upper surface 9 of the reinforcement member 10 and the annular lower surface 6 of the bearing body 7; and a synthetic resin-made radial sliding bearing piece 16 disposed between an annular inner peripheral surface 13 of a hollow cylindrical portion 12 of the reinforcement member 10 and an annular outer peripheral surface 15 of a hollow cylindrical portion 14 of the bearing body 7.

Abstract: A rolling bearing, which has at least one bearing ring and at least one lash compensation element possessing temperature-dependent extendibility arranged on the bearing ring. The rolling bearing has ring profile, which at least partially surrounds the lash compensation clement. The ring profile has at least one hollow cylindrical section oriented axially parallel to an axis of rotation of the rolling bearing and at least one radially oriented disk section. Also, at least one slit is formed in the ring profile.

Abstract: A connector assembly including an actuator body that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a pair of connector ends. The actuator body is movable along the longitudinal axis and has an actuator cam feature. The connector assembly also includes an assembly frame that is operatively coupled to the actuator body and is movable along a mating axis that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis. The assembly frame defines a connector compartment and has a frame cam feature that is positioned to engage the actuator cam feature. The actuator and frame cam features slidably engage each other when the actuator body is moved along the longitudinal axis thereby moving the assembly frame along the mating axis. The connector assembly also includes a mating connector that is held by the assembly frame within the connector compartment. The assembly frame is configured to move the mating connector in a mating direction.

Abstract: A two-piece spring push includes a main body portion and a cap. The cap is attached to the main body portion through frictional or interference fits of projections and openings in the two-piece spring push. The two-piece spring push allows for the use of the spring push on larger diameter optical cables as the spring push is assembled on the optical fibers after the optical fibers are terminated in an optical ferrule.

Abstract: A photonic device assembly including a photonic device fabricated on a chip substrate, the chip substrate having a physical alignment feature fabricated therein, and a frame to couple an external optical lens or interconnect to the photonic device. The frame has a frame facet abutted to a complementary facet of the physical alignment feature. An adhesive permanently affixes the frame to the photonic device as aligned by the abutted facets. A method of forming a photonic device assembly includes microfabricating a physical alignment feature in a chip substrate of a photonic device and joining a frame to the chip substrate by abutting a facet of the coupling to a complementary facet of the fabricated physical alignment feature.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for camera integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide a camera window for an electronic device are disclosed. A camera window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).

Abstract: A detergent dispensing cap for pre-treating a stained fabric. The cap can have a pour volume sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of the detergent composition. A portion of the cap can be provided with surface irregularities for scrubbing a stain.

Abstract: A fluid applicator device, comprising: a fluid reservoir (1) including a neck (11) defining an inside wall (12) defining an opening (10); a fastener collar (2) that is assembled in sealed manner on the neck (11) of the reservoir, the collar (2) defining an orifice (24); and a closure member (3) that is capable of closing the orifice (24) of the collar (2), the closure member including a fluid extractor and/or applicator element (31) that extends through the orifice of the collar and into the reservoir (1); the collar having wiper means (25) formed integrally therewith for wiping the extractor and/or applicator element (31) while it is being removed from the reservoir; the device being characterized in that the wiper means (25) are movable between an initial position prior to being assembled on the neck, and a final position after being assembled on the neck, the wiper means (25) being constrained in the final position by the neck (11) of the reservoir.

Abstract: An applicator for applying a composition to human keratinous materials, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows includes a stem and an applicator member that is carried by the stem. The applicator member includes a support, made as a single part, including an internal branch and a second branch; and an applicator portion that is engaged, at least in part, between the internal branch and the second branch. The applicator portion extends all around the internal branch, over at least a fraction of the length of the applicator portion where it is engaged between the branches.

Abstract: In a writing instrument in which an ink for a writing instrument such as a water-based ink and an oil-based ink impregnated into an ink occlusion body in a barrel is fed to a pen tip in a writing part, in order to provide a writing instrument in which a sign of exhausting the ink can readily and surely be detected, the above writing instrument is provided with a structure in which the ink impregnated into the ink occlusion body in the barrel is fed to the pen tip in the writing part, wherein the ink impregnated into the ink occlusion body described above is fed to the pen tip via an ink guiding feed having visibility, and a sign of exhausting the ink fed from the ink occlusion body is detected by visually observing the ink guiding feed described above via a visible part formed in the barrel.

Abstract: The two-side writing fountain pen of the present invention comprises an ink output means and a holding means which is provided for fastening the ink output means, and said ink output means includes a pen nib member and a feed member. The pen nib member includes a pen nib flake and a pen tip granulation element formed at the tip of the pen nib flake, wherein the pen tip granulation element is formed with a pen tip front contact section, a pen tip back contact section and an ink output passage communicating with the pen tip front contact section and the pen tip back contact section, and then the pen nib flake is provided with an ink guiding passage communicating with the ink output passage. The feed member includes an ink input section and an ink output section, said ink input section is provided within the holding means, and the ink output section connects with the ink guiding passage of the pen nib flake.

Abstract: A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent bristles and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleanser. The pad/cleanser may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleanser or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleanser when that pad/cleanser is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.

Abstract: A retractable bar using a positioning spring leaf and a control device to control positioning between an inner tube and an outer tube is disclosed. The control device includes a movable member, a push button, and a linking device connected between the movable member and the push button. When the push button is not pushed by an external force, the positioning spring leaf will be pushed by the movable member to force its positioning protrusions into engagement with locating notches of the inner tube to lock the outer and inner tubes. When the push button is pushed by an external force, the linking device will be forced to move the movable member away from the positioning spring leaf, causing the positioning spring leaf to disengage the positioning protrusions from the locating notches of the inner tube.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a joint housing having a recess, a ball stud having a ball head, a sealing bellows having a sealing seat on the housing side and a sealing seat on the stud side in the form of a bellows mouth which is adapted to be brought into contact with the ball stud, a bellows body of the sealing bellows extending between the sealing seat on the housing side and the bellows mouth, and further includes a joint socket, the ball head being accommodated for swiveling motion within the joint socket, and the joint socket being inserted in the recess of the joint housing.

Abstract: A coupling pin comprising a carriage member and a riding member longitudinally slidable over the carriage member. The carriage member and riding member being mutually inclined longitudinally, and together complementing each other to form a uniform pin. The pin may be inserted into an aperture such that the carriage member is first disposed therein, and a force subsequently applied to the riding member causing it to move longitudinally with respect to the carriage member, into a load-bearing position.

Abstract: A tool coupler for a machine is provided herein. In an embodiment, the tool coupler may have a coupler frame, a hook coupled to the coupler frame and configured to receive a first pin of a tool, and a wedge operatively connected to the coupler frame. The tool coupler may also have an actuator connected to move the wedge away from the hook to bias a second pin of the tool against the coupler frame, and a latch associated with the wedge. The latch may be movable between a first position at which the wedge is allowed to move away from the second pin, and a second position at which the wedge is constrained from moving away from the second pin.

Abstract: A tolerance ring includes a curved strip having first and second ends. Additionally, the tolerance ring includes a plurality of projections formed on the curved strip, and a physical connection between the first and second ends such that the curved strip forms a closed loop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for limiting the speed of moving traffic. The device comprises at least one protruding element positioned on the surface of a road that is open to traffic. The protruding element wherein the shape and dimensions thereof are such that it affects only vehicles of certain sizes, the speed of which is going to be controlled. Likewise, vehicles travelling at an acceptable speed and along an appropriate path are also not affected by the device of the invention.

Abstract: A permeable paver that has water permeability of on average about 1 inch per hour and compressive strength of an average of about 8000 psi, the paver manufactured by forming a mixture comprising blast-furnace slag, sand, gravel and portland cement into predetermined sizes, shapes and colors as desired utilizing a hydraulic-type or equivalent compacting block forming machine.

Abstract: A decorative concrete product and method of making the same is provided. The concrete surface carries a unique textural and visual decorative pattern that is troweled over the uncured surface. The decorative pattern strategically conceals any imperfections in the concrete surface. A decorative finishing tool is utilized to create a unique and consistent pattern throughout the exposed surface of the concrete. Unique visual patterns may include any aesthetic design including wood grain, or lightly finished honed or cut stone. The decorative finishing tool may be configured so that varying textures and contours may consistently be imprinted throughout the concrete. Advantageously, the cured concrete retains the durability of a concrete surface while carrying a visually and texturally appealing appearance.

Abstract: The winding apparatus has a forming frame which goes inside an underground damaged pipe, and a rail which regulates the circumference track of a forming frame as the joint mechanism interlocks adjacent portions of a plastic strips. The forming frame has a plurality of guides that are connected extend along with a rail. Each guide contains a guide roller which can rotate freely about an end of the corresponding roller shaft. Each guide roller has an outside large diameter part and an inside small diameter part. The rail has a guide groove portion for the large diameter part of a guide roller at each edge of a course in a width direction.

Abstract: A sea floor anchoring apparatus including a first and second tube, the second tube extending through the first tube's hollow bore and forming an annulus between the first and second tubes; rotary bearings interconnecting the first and second tubes for rotation of the second tube within the first tube; sand agitating teeth attached to the second tube's lower end; a turbine pump connected to the first and second tubes for, upon the rotation of the second tube, driving the water downwardly through the annulus; and a motor and motor housing assembly further interconnecting the first and second tubes, the motor turning the second tube, the teeth, and the turbine.

Abstract: Concrete silo for offshore drilling and production operations includes a reinforced concrete foundation secured at the seabed by steel piles and steel anchors embedded into the seabed. An exterior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation. An interior vertical reinforced concrete wall is supported by the foundation and houses a central cell. A series of radial shear walls extend between the exterior concrete wall and the interior concrete wall to form a series of perimeter cells. A roof and series of horizontally extending service platforms are supported off of the outer concrete wall and the interior concrete wall. A series of vertical well casings extend through the concrete foundation and down into the seabed for drilling operations.

Abstract: A method for creating an elevated containment structure at a site for providing telecommunications services. The elevated containment structure defines a containment field that is substantially surrounded by at least one wall of the elevated containment structure. The creation of the elevated containment structure further comprises forming the at least one wall, disposing a fill material within the containment field, positioning an equipment pad on the fill material, positioning telecommunications equipment on the equipment pad, receiving a signal at the telecommunications equipment from either end user and a service provider, communicating the signal from the equipment to the other of the end user and the service provider. Forming the at least one wall comprises positioning a plurality of forms to create a gap between at least two of the forms and disposing a second fill material in the gap.

Abstract: A system for installing an array of pilings for an array of solar panels is highly accurate and efficient. The system includes a horizontal laser and a rotating vertical laser that are mounted on a first piling and aligned with a target on a second piling on the opposite side of the array. An alignment template is placed against a piling and aligned with the vertical rotating laser. The aligned template provides a designated location where the next piling is driven. A hammer target on the pile driver allows the installer to precisely install the next piling. After installation, the next piling is measured for accuracy and if errors are found, an alignment bracket is used to correct the error. The process is repeated until the array of pilings is complete.

Abstract: One embodiment of a system of the present disclosure can be implemented as follows. A plurality of wall blocks are stacked to form at least a portion of a retaining wall, each wall block having an interior face, an exterior face; a top surface, and a bottom surface. The system further includes retaining means for securing at least one reinforcement member between stacked wall blocks, the retaining means including a pair of reinforcement member retaining bars that are positioned within a slot crossing the transverse length of the top surface of at least one wall block. A first of the retaining means secures the at least one reinforcement member against the bottom of the slot and a second of the retaining means secures the first retaining members against the side of the slot, such that the at least one reinforcement member is additionally secured between the pair of retaining means. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a cage for protecting a worker in an excavation. The cage includes spaced apart side panels formed from a material suitably-strong to withstand a force exerted on the side panels by a collapsing wall of the excavation. A plurality of cross members extend between the side panels to substantially maintain a distance separating the side panels when subjected to the force exerted by the collapsing wall of the excavation. And a connection head that is cooperable with a coupler supported by a boom of a piece of mechanized equipment is included to couple the cage to the boom. The connection head is coupled to one or both of the side panels, one or more of the cross members, or one or both of the side panels and at least one of the cross members.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems related to modular earth retaining wall systems. In one embodiment, among others, a precast retaining wall block configured for assembly into a retaining wall includes a front face portion, a web portion extending outwardly from a rear surface of the front face portion, a rear panel portion, and a geogrid material wrapped around the rear panel portion and extending outwardly from the rear panel portion. The web portion includes a vertical center portion and protrusions extending outwardly from the lower sides of the vertical center portion. The protrusions may be triangular.

Abstract: An air seeder venting system comprising a filter screen mounted in a distribution head of an air seeder for separating seeds from air fed from a supply conduit, the distribution head having an inlet in communication with the supply conduit, a plurality of seed outlets in communication with seeding lines, and an air exhaust, wherein the filter screen is located so as to have at an upstream side the inlet and the plurality of seed outlets, and at a downstream side the air exhaust.

Abstract: An arrangement for the non-rotational connection between a toothed tool wheel for the machining of end peripheral areas of tooth flanks, having an axis of rotation, and a tool holding fixture that can be rotationally driven around an axis of rotation. Said arrangement has an elastic means with a restoring force against which the direction of the axis of rotation of the tool wheel can be displaced relative to the direction of the axis of rotation of the tool holding fixture.

Abstract: A precision turning tool has a rotatingly drivable tool body. A tool slide and corresponding compensating slide are displaceably mounted in the tool body. The tool slide is displaceable along an axis of adjustment aligned at right angles to an axis of rotation of the tool body. The compensating slide is automatically displaceable along an axis of compensation aligned parallel to the axis of adjustment contrary to the movement of the tool slide to compensate for any imbalance. At an end projecting out of the tool body in the direction of adjustment the tool slide has a mounting surface, on which a cutting plate carrier can be mounted. An electronic distance measuring system is provided with a display unit and an energy supply device, wherein the distance of adjustment of the tool slide can be detected by means of the distance measuring system and displayed.

Abstract: In a device for limiting the advance during a drilling operation, which can be used in conjunction with a hand drill or with an automatic manufacturing machine, the device comprising a housing with a stop cage and a spindle mounted rotatably and axially displaceably in the housing, and a stop which is adjustable in the axial direction being arranged for limiting the advance, the invention consists in that the stop cage (2a) comprises a pin fixed to the housing for breaking the chips, with a housing-side end and a free end, in such a way that it extends approximately parallel and directly adjacent to the workpiece surface and approximately radially from the outside towards the drilling tool in such a way that its free end almost touches the countersink. Damage to the surface of workpieces is prevented by the invention, so that corresponding refinishing is avoided. Moreover, the removal of the coiled chips from the drilling tool previously necessary after each drilling cycle is dispensed with.

Abstract: Reaming tool includes a head and a detachable cutting insert fixed in a seat. The seat includes radial, tangential, and axial support surfaces, while the cutting insert has a mirror-symmetrical polyhedron shape comprising six limiting surfaces, viz. two chip surfaces and at least two clearance surfaces, a number of alternately usable, identical cutting edges formed in transitions between the chip and clearance surfaces. A female- or male-like securing means co-operates with a complementary, male- or female-like securing means in the seat, more precisely in an inactive, contactless state as long as the cutting insert is held pressed by the cutting forces against the axial support surface. The securing means is activatable when the cutting insert is unintentionally distanced from the axial support surface against the action of a clamping member. Tool head and reaming insert for the tool are disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly includes a hole saw, an arbor, a collar and a nut. The hole saw is formed from a back plate and a skirt which has a cutting edge on its free end. A passageway is provided through the hole saw. The arbor is rotatably mounted to the hole saw and extends through the passageway. The collar is nonrotatably mounted on the arbor. The collar has a protrusion extending from an end face thereof. A nut is rotatably mounted on the arbor. The collar is trapped between the nut and the hole saw. The nut directly bears against the end face and the protrusion of the collar, which causes the nut to cock relative to the collar. As a result, the nut does not easily come loose on the arbor, even during aggressive use.

Abstract: A cutting insert has an upper face, a lower face, a side face, an upper cutting edge, a lower cutting edge and a through hole. The upper face has a substantially polygonal shape. The side face has a first side face and a second side face. The first side face has at least one upper concave part and at least one lower concave part. The at least one upper concave part and the at least one lower concave part are separated from each other through a thick part being continuous along a width direction of the side face. The thick part has a curved region extending in the shape of a wave from one end to the other end in the width direction of the first side face in a side view.

Abstract: A shaft cooler (1) for a tool motor spindle (2), which has a rotating shaft (3), a static lance (4), and at least one coolant loop (7), which comprises a coolant inlet (5) and a coolant outlet (6), said shaft cooler being implemented such that the flow of the coolant from the static lance (4) into the rotating shaft (3) is performed via a flow path that includes radially-extending cooling holes (31) to cause the coolant to flow from a radially inside location to a radially outside location.

Abstract: A locking device (1) for locking a container (2) onto a loading surface, in particular for road vehicles or railway container wagons, with a first locking lever (11) which is arranged pivotably about an shaft (13) oriented perpendicularly to the loading and unloading direction (Z) and which is preloaded in the direction of a basic position of a spring (14), wherein the shaft of the first locking lever (11) is guided displaceably in the loading and unloading direction (Z), and a toggle lever (117) is provided, the toggle lever being coupled pivotably at one end to the first locking lever (11) and at the opposite end pivotably to a fixing point (102) in the housing (10) such that the shaft (13) of the first locking lever (11), in the loading position of said shaft, is displaced towards the corner fitting (20) and, in the basic position of said shaft, is displaced in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a removable gate for defining storage areas in a transport trailer. The removable gate includes a first elongated housing, a second elongated housing and a pair of supports. Each elongated housing carries a pair of outwardly biased retractable members. When in the extended position the retractable members engage supports thereby securing the gate in a desired position. Retracting the members permits removal and repositioning of the gate. The removable gate is pivotal about the first elongated housing upon retraction of the second pair of retractable members, and pivotal about the second elongated housing upon retraction of the first pair of retractable members.

Abstract: A thread forming fastener for threading into a nut anchor of a pliable material wherein there is produced during the driving of the fastener a combination of forces that encourages the nut anchor material to flow smoothly and to develop a mating thread in the nut anchor that minimizes stress cracking and radial hoop stress as the mating thread is being formed. The fastener comprises a drive head and a shank extending from the head and having a longitudinal axis, the shank including a core and a thread having a selected axial pitch, a selected thread height and a profile which in axial cross-section includes a leading face, a trailing face and a tip. The leading face is composed of a radially inner concave portion having a first radius and which transitions smoothly to a radially outer convex portion having a second radius, the transition occurring at a point on the common tangent to those portions.