Abstract: A suspension system for hanging fabric articles such as quilts or the like from a vertical surface such as a wall or partition. A C-shaped bar is passed through a sleeve of the fabric article which is conventionally provided for accommodating a hanger. A mounting bracket has a projecting tab which enters the opening of the bar and engages the sleeve. The article is pinned in place by its own weight in a manner which avoids making or needing holes in the sleeve, while concealing of the mounting apparatus. The mounting bracket engages the wall by adhesive or fasteners, or alternatively is suspended from a wall mounted rod from above. Optionally, an integral motion detector operates an alarm.

Abstract: A wallboard wall carries a picture or shelf hanger in a hole between front and back faces of the wall. The hanger includes: a one-piece member having (a) a shoulder having a bottom portion bearing against a bottom portion of the hole and extending horizontally through the hole, (b) an arm extending upwardly from the shoulder, (c) a leg (i) extending downwardly from the shoulder, and (ii) located outside the front face of the wall and (d) a load bearing surface for receiving the object. The arm has a sharp pointed end piercing the back face of the wall and extending into the wall via the back face of the wall.

Abstract: A two-part roof hook is described, which has a base part (1) and a hook part (2) which can be connected to the base part (1) and which has a connecting element (6) on its end (4) for mounting an assembly. The base part (1) is a cut-off portion (X) of an angle section, one angle leg (8) of which is provided with connecting elements (7) for making a connection to the roof substructure. A section wall (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the section is arranged within the angle between the two angle legs (8, 9), which section wall includes an obtuse angle (?) jointly with the angle leg area of the connecting elements (7), serves as a support surface for the end (3) of the hook part (2), and can be connected to the end (3) of the hook part (2).

Abstract: A strut clip for facilitating attachment of pipe hangers, electrical conduit, or other structures to open channel unistruts. The strut clip includes an assembly of a face element and a nut element. The face element includes a centrally located threaded aperture, a face element rear surface, and a pair of flanges extending rearwardly from the face element rear surface. The nut element includes a nut element rear surface, an unthreaded aperture for free passage of a fastener, and a pair of openings therein. The flanges of the face element extend through the openings in the nut element thereby forming the strut clip assembly. Nut element further includes a narrow side, a wide side, and beveled edges that enable attachment to a unistrut by simply inserting the narrow side of the nut portion into the open channel of the unistrut and rotating the assembly by 90 degrees.

Abstract: A protection stand comprises a planar surface having first and second sides. The first side of the planar surface comprises a plurality of conical stands that converge away from the planar surface. The second side comprises first and second layers, wherein the first layer is positioned between the planar surface and the second layer and comprises an adaptable cushion for conforming to the surface area of the object resting on the protection stand. The second layer comprises an assembly side and an attachment side, both of such sides comprising an adhesive bond for securing the assembly side to the first layer and the attachment side to the cross-sectional surface of the object resting on the protection stand.

Abstract: To provide a passenger's weight measurement device for a vehicle seat which can be assembled to prevent the occurrence of the initial deformation and the initial load. The passenger's weight measurement device comprises a pair of left and right fixed lower rails, a pair of movable upper rails disposed to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on each of the fixed lower rails, load sensors fixed on an upper surface of the left movable upper rail, load sensors mounted on the movable upper rail to be movable in a left-and-right direction with respect to the right movable upper rail, and a rectangular frame mounted on the load sensors. Mounting holes are formed on the rectangular frame, and rods are inserted into the mounting holes from bottom up. The rods are engaged with nuts.

Abstract: A slide apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second rails and a rolling element circulation unit including first and second cases and a plurality of rolling elements accommodated within a receiving portion that includes first and second annular receiving portions accommodating the rolling elements annularly arranged in a rolling and circulating manner. The second case includes elongated bores connected to the first and second annular receiving portions in a state where the second case is mounted at the second rail. A portion of the rolling elements is exposed from the elongated bores while being inhibited from disengaging from the elongated bores. The rolling elements exposed from the elongated bores make contact with an operating surface of the first rail and inner surfaces of the first and second annular receiving portions, and roll and circulate in association with a relative movement between the first and second rails.

Abstract: A stand including a base and a platen assembly. The base includes: an end protrusion extending from a top surface and including a first distal end; and a plurality of adjustment protrusions extending from the top surface and including respective second distal ends. The platen assembly includes a platen and a prop leg. The platen is pivotably connected to the base and the prop leg. For an open position: the platen and prop leg pivot such that: an end of the prop leg contacts an adjustment protrusion or the first end protrusion; the platen and the prop leg form an acute or obtuse angle, opening toward the top surface. For a closed position, the platen and prop leg pivot such that the bottom surface, the platen, and the prop leg are parallel. The first distal end extends further from the top surface than the second distal ends.

Abstract: The invention is a unit for fixing an antenna, comprising: a base element suited to support the antenna, provided with a contact surface suited to rest against a plate-like supporting body; a fixing element comprising a main body suited to be connected to the base element through joining means that define a connection direction, and a projecting body mainly developed according to the connection direction and associated with the main body through a deformable connection section. The projecting body has a reference surface facing a corresponding thrust surface of the main body and spaced from it, the connection section being configured so that its deformation makes it possible to move near each other and bring into contact the reference surface and the thrust surface when the fixing element is connected to the base element.

Abstract: A scissor suspension mechanism, optionally used as a seat base, comprising both small footprint base and movable element, a set of two pairs of crossed first and second scissor arms and a linkage assembly including a plurality of pivot interfaces and linkages; which are designed in a way that the crossed first and second scissor arms describe, during the total elevation stroke of the movable element with respect to the base element, both positive and negative angles with respect to each other while passing through a null angle at which the overall mechanism length is maximal.

Abstract: A hold open rod is provided. The hold open rod may include: an outer tube; an inner tube having two ends, at least one end configured to slide within the outer tube; a tube stop located at one end of the inner tube; a groove around the circumference of the tube stop; and a resilient material located in the groove, the resilient material contacting the tube stop and the outer tube. A method of reducing wear on a hold open rod may be provided. The method may include: locating first resilient material between an inner tube and an outer tube; providing a locking mechanism to lock the inner tube with respect to the outer tube; and providing a second resilient material between an isolator and a collar on the locking mechanism.

Abstract: Gimbal system, including method and apparatus, for mounting a gimbal apparatus to a support platform with a mount assembly. The mount assembly may include first and second bar assemblies that are rotationally coupled to each other by a pair of gears.

Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.

Abstract: A blowout preventer and seal structure for a blowout preventer, the seal structure having a the body with two front faces including a first face and a second face, a projection projecting out from the body, the first face on the projection, the second face in a plane, and the projection with the first face projecting out beyond the plane. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Abstract: A control valve includes a signal pressure passage that transmits a pilot pressure in first and second pilot chambers as a signal pressure of another device, and first and second connecting grooves that connect the first and second pilot chambers to the signal pressure passage when a spool is in a neutral position. When the pilot pressure is led into the first pilot chamber such that the spool moves, the first connecting groove connects the first pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage while the second connecting groove separates from the signal pressure passage. When the pilot pressure is led into the second pilot chamber such that the spool moves, the second connecting groove connects the second pilot chamber to the signal pressure passage while the first connecting groove separates from the signal pressure passage.

Abstract: An activation element of an electromagnetic actuating unit of a hydraulic valve which has an armature that is essentially cylindrical and which is arranged in a slidable fashion in the actuating unit. Also, a method for manufacturing an activation element of an electromagnetic actuating unit of a hydraulic valve. The activation element has at least one substantially cylindrical armature, one plunger rod and one magnet cone. The plunger rod and the magnet cone are embodied in one piece with the armature.

Abstract: A flow control valve is disclosed that includes a valve body member having a seating surface that is seated on a valve seated surface. Multiple inflow orifices and multiple outflow orifices may be formed on the valve seated surface or the seating surface, and may be formed so as not to overlap each other in a state in which the seating surface is seated on the valve seated surface. An inside inflow channel that is in communication with the inflow channel and the inflow orifice may be formed inside a member where the inflow orifices are formed and an inside outflow channel that is in communication with the outflow channel and the outflow orifice is formed inside a member where the outflow orifices are formed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a valve housing (1) having a main bore (6) and at least one connecting bore or secondary bore (12, 20, 22, 36), the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the main bore. The connecting or secondary bores end at a side wall limiting the main bore, wherein the side wall has different material thicknesses being distributed at the circumference thereof. According to the invention, to reduce material stresses the valve housing has tension reducing grooves (14, 26, 28, 34) in the ending regions, said grooves being integrally molded into the side wall of the main bore.

Abstract: In a valve seat made of an iron-based, composite sintered alloy having hard particles and a solid lubricant dispersed therein to have high wear resistance and good machinability, which is usable in high-power fuel direct injection engines with improved fuel efficiency and low emission, relatively coarse solid lubricant particles in such an amount as not to drastically reduce the strength of a sintered body are dispersed to provide self-lubrication, and as fine solid lubricant particles as not hindering the bonding of matrix particles are dispersed to improve machinability.

Abstract: A manual control (2) for use in a hoist system (1), wherein a grip (47) is formed by a first part (48) projecting from the housing of the manual control, the first part having a largely T-shaped cross-section with grip surfaces (49) that extend transversely to the stem (50) of the T and intended for disposition between two fingers when a user uses the grip (47).

Abstract: Pulling eyes are provided with an integrated lug for electrically coupling conductors or cables to terminating equipment. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage a bare metal portion of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the bare metal portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions are assembled to pulling ropes or cables for installing the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may further include integrated lugs electrically attached or coupled to the body portions and configured to electrically couple the conductor to terminating equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle lifting system comprising a mechanism fixedly disposed within a center pillar at the side of a vehicle, for extending out of the pillar and exerting a downward force onto the surface on which the vehicle is positioned. When the force is exerted on the surface, the side of the vehicle is lifted above the surface. A control device is utilized for selectively extending the mechanism out of the pillar and retracting the mechanism back into the pillar.

Abstract: A fence/railing post cap system for use with a fence/railing post includes a decorative and utilitarian structure which enables removal and storage of a cap of the system to accommodate reception of beverage containers and the like within a base of the system and which provides for a pole with accessory structures therein to be mounted on the base by passing through an opening in the cap when the cap is in position on the base.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a base having a sound machine module and a humidifier module, a water reservoir in fluid communication with the humidifier module, a user interface supported by the base, and a controller in communication with the user interface, the humidifier module, and the sound machine module. The controller is configured to operate the humidifier module to provide humidified air using water contained in the water reservoir in response to a humidifier input to the user interface. The controller is also configured to operate the sound machine module to provide sound in response to a sound input to the user interface.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein can introduce low amounts of gas in a liquid with fast response time and low variation in concentration. In one embodiment, a gas is directed into an inlet on a gas contacting side of a porous element of a contactor and a liquid is directed into an inlet on a liquid contacting side of the porous element of the contactor. The liquid contacting side and the gas contacting side are separated by the porous element and a housing. The gas is removed from an outlet on the gas contacting side of the porous element at a reduced pressure compared to the pressure of the gas flowing into the inlet of the contactor. A liquid containing a portion of the gas transferred into the liquid is removed from an outlet on the liquid contacting side of the porous element, producing a dilute bubble free solution.

Abstract: A gas strut assembly includes a housing defining an interior space. A rod is coupled to the housing, and is slideably moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A flexible member is secured in position relative to the housing. A rigid member is coupled to and moveable with the rod. The flexible member includes at least one displaceable member that moves radially away from the central axis in response to a second radial force component of a closing force when engaged by the rigid member moving from the extended position into the retracted position. The flexible member includes a multi-layered structure that changes shape in response to a change in temperature to affect the magnitude of the second radial force component required to move the displaceable member.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air spring having an air spring flexible member (1) whose wall (5) of elastomeric material has at least one reinforcement layer (19) and bead (3) with a reinforcement core. The reinforcement layer surrounds the reinforcement core in the form of a loop (20). The flexible member wall, which projects from the bead, does not lie flush on the piston but forms an arc projecting away from the piston when viewed in cross section. The core loop can thus terminate inside the piston diameter thereby improving the roll-off characteristics of the flexible member.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle, having a bellows piston, bellows, and a fluid as the damping medium. The shock absorber has a first partition wall, which is situated on the bellows piston, and is implemented to separate a volume area of the bellows piston from a volume area of the bellows. The first partition wall has a first opening, which is implemented to limit a fluid flow between the volume area of the bellows piston and the volume area of the bellows. The shock absorber further has a sprung mass, which is situated inside the shock absorber to influence the fluid flow inside the shock absorber.

Abstract: A piston rod (15) and a first piston (13) are arranged in the interior of an external cylinder (11) and internal cylinder (12); a second piston for absorbing the change of volume of operating fluid (24) is also arranged therein. Also, a first return spring (18) for returning the piston rod (15) to the interruption position is provided and a second return spring (20) for returning the operating fluid 24 into the high-pressure chamber (25) by pressurizing the second piston (14) is provided. In addition, the air in the interior of the buffering device (10) is withdrawn by a vacuum pump (38), and operating fluid (24) is thus introduced in a degassed condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a variable differential mount apparatus using a Magnetorheological Elastomer (MRE). The apparatus includes a core, a coil, a plurality of MRE supports, and a magnetic path formation member. The core has a plurality of arms disposed thereon. The coil is wound on the plurality of arms, respectively. The plurality of MRE supports are disposed to face the plurality of arms, respectively. The magnetic path formation member is disposed outside the plurality of MRE supports. More specifically, a current is applied to coil to vary the degree of stiffness of the variable differential mount based on a particular driving condition to allow for increased handling and comfort.

Abstract: A welding fixture for use during welding of a web member to a flange member to produce a sill, includes an elongate bed having a pair of opposed longitudinal edge rails, and a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted at spaced intervals along each of the longitudinal edge rails. Each clamp assembly is selectively movable between an open configuration in which a welding head can move past the clamp assembly while welding the web member to the flange member, and a closed configuration in which the clamp assembly is operative to hold the web member and the flange member in a predetermined orientation relative to each other.

Abstract: A device and a method for processing flat substrates, such as circuit boards or the like to be printed, is provided. The substrate can be fed resting on a transport device on two opposite side edge regions, can be first lifted from below for the purpose of processing through supports and pressed against corresponding hold-down pieces in the side edge regions, and can be clamped on the corresponding side edges of the substrate in this position, resting on the supports, between two clamping strips, whereupon the hold-down piece can be lowered to the side away from the substrate and the clamping strip and further below the region of the upper side of the substrate thus loaded, such that full-surface processing can take place.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using the apparatus to join hull plates of a ship's hull includes forming a flat plate to match three-dimensional contours of a ship or boat hull. The apparatus including a pair of angularly adjustable arms attached at a pivot point, an angle adjusting mechanism to adjust an angle between the arms, an anchoring member on distal ends of each of the arms to secure the applicator bar in a fixed position relative to the boat member, and a plurality of extendable pressing members attached along a length of the arms to engage the structural plate.

Abstract: A micro adjustable stop is provided for use with wood working tools. The micro adjustable stop includes a base having a first adjustment rod, a support rod and a base plate, wherein the support rod and first adjustment rod coupled to a wood working tool on one end of the support rod and the first adjustment rod and the base plate coupled at an opposing end of the support rod and the first adjustment rod. The micro adjustable stop includes a second adjustment rod with a stop coupled at one end of the second adjustment rod. Additionally, the micro adjustable stop has an adjustment mechanism having a first end and an opposing second end, the second end comprising a micro adjustment device, wherein the first end of the adjustment mechanism is operatively coupled to the first adjustment rod and micro adjustment device is operatively coupled to the second adjustment rod.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a folding section configured to nip a sheet using a plurality of rollers to form a fold line for saddle stitching and a control section to control the nipping amount in the folding section. When carrying out square back processing to flatten the spine folded portion of a sheet bundle where a fold line for saddle stitching is formed, the post-processing apparatus allows the nipping amount in the folding section to be smaller than that in the case where the square back processing is not carried out.

Abstract: During stapling operations: connectors disconnect a compiler platform from an elevator platform; an ejector structure is maintained in a fully retracted position to allow a stack of sheets to be within a stapling area; a stapling device staples the stack of sheets in the stapling area; the ejector structure moves the stapled set of sheets to the elevator platform; and the elevator platform moves in a downward direction after the ejector structure moves the stapled set of sheets to the elevator platform. During non-stapling stacking operations: the connectors connect the compiler platform to the elevator platform; the ejector structure is maintained in a middle position between a fully retracted position and a fully ejected position to prevent the sheets from entering the stapling area; and the elevator platform and the compiler platform move together in the downward direction as additional sheets are added to the stack of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a switching member, a stapler, and a movement driving portion. The switching member switches the conveying direction of a sheet introduced from an image forming apparatus. The stapler staples a bundle of sheets obtained by performing stacking processing for a plurality of the sheets introduced from the image forming apparatus. The movement driving portion moves the stapler. Further, the stapler operates the switching member by being moved by the movement driving portion, thereby switching the conveying direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which enables a sheet to be stopped at a target position with precision even when the sheet is stopped by moving a heavy unit such as a shift unit. A drive unit moves a moving unit so as to move a sheet, which is being conveyed, in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the sheet. An output unit detects movement of the moving unit and output a signal in synchronization with movement of the moving unit. A control unit issues a stop instruction to the drive unit based on a delay time from when a start instruction to the drive unit is issued until when the signal in synchronization with the movement of the drive unit is output, and a target moving amount required for the moving unit to move to a target position.

Abstract: The present invention is for separating upper and lower sheets. The sheet feeder includes a feed roller that conveys the sheet fed by a pickup roller in a sheet feeding direction and a retard roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction at a rotational velocity faster than that of the feed roller by interposing a torque limiter. Meanwhile, the retard roller is rotated at a velocity equal to that of the feed roller when a single sheet is nipped in the roller nip portion. The sheet feeder further includes a controller that performs control such that, when double sheet feeding occurs by the pickup roller, the sheet of the retard roller side projects ahead of the sheet of the feed roller side in the sheet feeding direction by virtue of the torque limiter, and then, the retard roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device configured to feed sheets, the sheet feeding device including a tray configured to receive the sheets; a separation portion configured to separate the sheets one by one; a guide portion configured to guide feeding of the sheets while regulating a position of the sheets in a width direction that is orthogonal to a feed direction of the sheets, the guide portion comprising an upstream side end portion, in the feed direction of the sheets, which is disposed above the tray and a downstream side end portion, in the feed direction, which extends further to the downstream side, in the feed direction, than the separation portion.

Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a sheet tray, two guide plates and a width adjusting mechanism. The sheet tray supports a sheet. The two guide plates, disposed on the sheet tray, guides transportation of the sheet placed on the sheet tray. The width adjusting mechanism, disposed on the sheet tray and connected to the two guide plates, adjusts a distance between the two guide plates. The width adjusting mechanism includes a pinion, a resilient member, a toothed portion and two connectors. The pinion is rotatably disposed. The resilient member is disposed coaxially with and rotated with the pinion. The toothed portion is disposed around the resilient member and in contact with the resilient member. The toothed portion provides a resisting force upon rotation of the pinion. Each connector connects the pinion to one of the guide plates.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling a printer including a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to provide an electrostatic holding force for transporting a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is controlled to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an initial electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem positioned downstream of the charging subsystem is controlled to deposit a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A level of charge on the receiver medium is sensed using a charge sensing device positioned downstream of the inking subsystem. A recharging subsystem is controlled responsive to the sensed level of charge on the receiver medium to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.

Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus includes a loading member which loads the sheet discharged by the discharge member, a tip support member which abuts against the leading edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge member in the sheet discharge direction, a rotation member which abuts against an upper surface of the sheet discharged to the loading member, and is rotated to transport the sheet to the stopper side, and a control section which controls a transport amount of the sheet through the rotation member based on a loading amount of the sheet loaded on the loading member.

Abstract: A foot for a foosball man having a convex center portion along the operative region of the front surface of the foosball foot, and substantially straight edges, or flat planes, along the outer portions. This dual-configuration enables the foot to take advantage of the greater control in trapping, controlling and hitting the ball forward using the convex portion, and the improved control of hitting angled and bank shots using the straight edge, or flat plane, outer portions.

Abstract: A gaming method includes repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player and at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature. A gaming method includes scoring dice.

Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.

Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.

Abstract: A form of play is disclosed that provides a house advantage in a blackjack side game.

Abstract: A movable object for use in a system having means for determining whether the movable object passes a flat target plane of the system, the movable object having a plurality of sensor means, radio wave emitter means arranged in the movable object, and control means for controlling the operation of the radio wave emitter means, the control means being arranged to sample an electromagnetic field intensity measured by the sensor means and transmit data relating to the field intensity measured by the individual sensors by means of said radio wave emitter means, wherein the transmitted data allow for a unique identification of which of said plurality of sensor means measured the transmitted data.

Abstract: A target for hanging on a frame has a hanging member having a first elongated arm, a second arm extending from the first arm and a third arm extending from the second arm. The first and third arms are parallel to each other and the second arm is perpendicular to said first and third arms. The third arm is shorter than the first arm. The hanging member has a thickness. A target disk has an elongated slot wherein the hanging member is inserted into the slot. The third arm extends through the slot and the second arm is received within the slot.