Abstract: A joint suitable for construction castings having a frame and a lid or cover, such as manholes, grates, trench drains, hatches and the like, and construction castings incorporating the same. No tools are necessary to separate the joint. An enlarged head located on a cover fits into a socket located on a frame or adjacent lid. To separate the head from the socket, the lid is lifted to a substantially vertical position and turned about ninety degrees. The lid can then be lifted away from the socket. When the joint is used in manhole or hatch assemblies, a latch may be used to hold the cover open and the cover may be opened and closed with a lever.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle door in which a body-mounting plate has a spherical convex surface in moveable contact with a corresponding spherical concave surface at the base of a hinge plate permitting adjustments in the pivot axis of the hinge assembly.

Abstract: A motion control device for controlling the movement of an operational member about a first axis and about a second axis includes a spindle having a socket and a control arm wherein the socket defines a first axis opening. The device includes a cylindrical pivot member inserted into the first axis opening concentric with the first axis. The pivot member defines a second axis opening and the device includes a cylindrical pivot pin inserted into the second axis opening concentric with the second axis. The spindle is designed to pivot in a first direction about the first axis and in a second direction about the second axis wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to each other. In one embodiment, a hexagonal drag spring is inserted between the pivot member and spindle to influence the frictional drag for one of the two directions of movement.

Abstract: An automotive hinge comprises: a door component adapted to be mounted to a vehicular closing panel, the door component comprising a conical pivot axis aperture; a body component adapted to be mounted to a vehicular body structure, said body component comprising a pivot arm; the door component and the body component being adapted to rotate about a pivot axis; the body component comprising an upstanding, conical structural feature extending from the body component and adapted to be coaxially aligned with the pivot axis and structurally fixed to the pivot arm of the body component; the conical structural feature comprising an external conical bearing surface; such that when the hinge is assembled, the door component interleaves over the body component, dimensionally locating the door and body components by means of the walls of the conical pivot axis aperture of the door component interacting with the external conical bearing surface of the conical structural feature.

Abstract: A hinge assembly which creates a zero backlash situation. The base member has multiple seats, each having two contact ridges. The contact ridges are formed by an intersection of two planes (ideally substantially ninety degrees). A ball interconnect is engaged by the contact ridges of the seat on one side and a similar arrangement of contact seats on the other side (the hinge member). The diameter of the ball interconnect is larger than the distances between the contact ridges. By sandwiching the ball interconnect between the contact ridges of the base member and the contact ridges of the hinge member, a zero backlash is created in which firm and positive contact is maintained between the elements of the hinge.

Abstract: A handheld computer comprises a generally rectangular housing and a cover movably connected thereto by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a tubular member or arm that has one end fixedly (non-rotatably) secured to an edge of the cover and an opposite end pivotally coupled to an edge of the cover. The hinge assembly enables the cover to be moved to at least three different positions. The cover provides a different function in each position. A method of reconfiguring an encasement of a handheld computer to provide at least two different functions includes rotating the cover about at least two different axes to move the cover between at least two different positions.

Abstract: A fence rail clip for attaching a fence rail to a vertical fence post is disclosed. The rail clip has a bracket and a rail connector. The bracket may be secured to the vertical post. The rail connector has a rail receiving receptacle into which an end of a rail may be inserted and the connector is adapted to slidingly engage the bracket. When the position of the rail connector is altered by sliding the rail connector along the bracket, the angle of the rail receiving receptacle is altered, thereby changing the angle at which a rail may be attached to the post.

Abstract: An interlockable element for a structure assembly set includes an at least partially planar body and a connector edge having associated therewith a first A-type and B-type connector pair disposed about a first axis of rotation and a second A-type and B-type connector pair disposed about a second axis of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation are disposed on opposing sides of a generally rectangular quadrilateral of a specified dimension. Each of one pair of diagonally opposite vertices of the quadrilateral are situated internally to each of the A-type connectors and each of the other pair of diagonally opposite vertices of the quadrilateral are situated internally to each of the B-type connectors; and the quadrilateral is generally disposed in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the plane of the body of the interlockable element. The A-type connectors are interlockable with the B-type connectors.

Abstract: A method for movably connecting two members. The method comprises the steps of molding a first member in a first mold portion and placing the first member within a second mold portion. The method also includes inserting molten material into the second mold portion to form a second member. The method further includes limiting contact between the first member and the material to prevent bonding between the first member and to permit relative motion between the members. The method also includes cooling the molten material into a solid form, whereby an assembly is formed from the first and the second member. The method further includes removing the members from the second mold assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic hinge that connects and secures adjacent components while allowing for rotational movement of the components with respect to each other. The magnetic hinge may be incorporated into a magnetic stand magnifier or a variety of other structures. The magnetic hinge of this invention consists of an arm and a shaft with a magnet therebetween.

Abstract: For a truss, a hinge assembly for connecting truss members that form the truss. The hinge assembly may include a first hinge plate having a first boss formed thereon and a second hinge plate having a second boss formed thereon. The second boss defines an opening for pivotal receipt of the first boss. The hinge assembly also includes a retainer for maintaining the pivotal receipt of the first boss in the second boss. When the first hinge plate is attached to a first portion of a truss and the second hinge plate is attached to a second portion of a truss, the first and second truss portion can be pivoted relative to each other to enable portions of the truss to be collapsed for transporting purposes.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention a locking device is provided, the device comprising a first movable object; a second movable object; and a housing, wherein the housing defines at least (i) a cavity, (ii) a first bore for receiving the first movable object, and (iii) a second bore which opens into the cavity and intersects with the first bore, and in which the second movable object is at least partially disposed; whereby upon movement of the first movable object into a locking position within the first bore, the second movable object is moved to a position in proximity or in contact with an abutting surface within the cavity. Related combinations of such devices, as well as releasable hinges and closures employing such configurations and related methods are also described.

Abstract: An interface apparatus includes a base element, an interface element, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the interface element to the base element. The attachment mechanism is pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom. The interface element is an extensible member which is, in two of its embodiments, pivotally mounted so as to be rotatably adjustable about a pivot point with respect to a primary member. The primary member may be a base member or another display member. These members may be computer keyboards or displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), audio speakers, or the like such as are used in desk top or lap top computers and terminals.

Abstract: A rotatable power and data center with storage area (100) is disclosed which provides access, at a work surface level, to electrical power, communication signals and other types of desired electrical and/or communications input/output. The power and data center (100) includes a stationary housing (106). A pair of coupling connectors (134) are provided which allow the stationary housing (106) to be removably secured from a slot (102) formed within a work surface (104). A carriage (170) is rotatably coupled to the stationary housing (106) and is movable between closed and open positions. A recessed storage area (244) is formed by the housing (106) and carriage (170). Electrical receptacles (180) and communication receptacles (174) are mounted on the carriage (170). A cover (220) is also rotatably coupled to the housing (106). Electrical and communications devices can remain energized through the receptacles (174, 180) when the carriage (170) and cover (220) are in closed positions.

Abstract: An adjustable quick release door hinge for connecting a door to a door frame comprises a hinge component, a hinge bracket, and a pin for connecting the hinge bracket to the hinge component. The hinge component includes a housing having an interior concave surface, an elongated portion extending from the housing and a rotatable bearing member contained in the housing. The bearing member has an arcuate portion and an aperture. Portions of the bearing member protrude from the interior of the housing. Each of the protruding portions is flat. A fastener device is used for connecting the hinge component to a door frame or door. The hinge bracket is attached to the other of the door or door frame. The pin extends from the hinge bracket and is received by the aperture of the bearing member of the hinge component for connecting the hinge bracket with the hinge component. Also featured is a quick release hinge component and a method of attaching a door to a door frame.

Abstract: A hanging fitting for a door, window or the like having a fixed support inserted on the sash-frame and on which is installed a spindle for inserting a movable support fixed on the leaf of the door, window or the like into a bushing. The spindle is pivotally installed, by an eccenter, on the fixed support. The bushing corresponding with the movable support is covering a sleeve. This sleeve has an eccentered bore for receiving the spindle of the fixed support.

Abstract: A hinge structure composed of a supporting hinge and aligning hinge. The supporting hinge is composed of a first and second part one of which has a first bearing with a spherical bearing portion the other a cooperating seat and preferably a cylindrical bearing surface opening therefrom. The first bearing cooperates with seat and the cylindrical bearing surface to support and prevent relative lateral movement of the first part while permitting rotational movement. The aligning hinge is formed of a second bearing having spherical bearing surface portion and a second hinge portion with a cylindrical bearing portion adapted to receive the second bearing in mating relation to permit rotation around the spherical axis of its spherical portion while preventing lateral movement.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic ball and socket joint permits a ball to rotate freely within a socket within constrained bounds. The socket resides within a housing that has an exterior surface having a rotational axis of symmetry passing through the center of the socket. A channel connects the socket to the exterior surface. The ball extends from a member having a collar which partially enshrouds the ball and which has an inside surface that is substantially identical to the exterior surface of the socket housing and which has an axis of rotational symmetry passing through the center of the ball. The free rotation of the ball in the socket is constrained by the restricted movement of the member through the channel and the restricted rotation of the collar around the exterior surface of the housing.

Abstract: A sun shield swivel apparatus is used inside a vehicle for shielding sunlight or on coming vehicle headlights from the eyes of the driver. The sun shield swivel apparatus has a clamping member, an inner swinging arm, an outer telescoping swinging arm, a first universal joint assembly connected between the inner swinging arm and the outer telescopic swinging arm, a sun screen and a second universal joint assembly connected between the outer telescopic swinging arm and the sun screen. The sun shield swivel apparatus can be swiveled to any position imaginable inside the vehicle because of the universal joint assemblies and the outer telescopic swinging arm, thereby allowing the user to position the sun screen to any desired location.

Abstract: The hinge for eyeglasses, of the type including a lens-bearing front having two temples hinged thereto, has a shaped element and a support. The shaped element has a protruding tab defining an L-shaped base which can be detachably accommodated in a complementarily-shaped first seat formed in the end portion of a temple. The shaped element is detachably accommodated in a second seat formed in the support. Elastically deformable engagement members are connected to the support, for detachably connecting the support to a complementarily shaped third seat formed in a front.

Abstract: A hinge assembly (22) for mounting a deck lid (24) to a vehicle body (28) is disclosed. The hinge assembly (22) comprises a mount (36), an elongate strap (38) and a swivel (44) for swivelably attaching the strap (38) to the mount (36). The swivel (44) is preferably a ball which cooperates with a socket. Ideally, the hinge assembly (22) includes a translatable screw or rod (45) which provides for height adjustment of a deck lid (24) with respect to a vehicle body (28).

Abstract: Panels (10, 12, 16, 20) are joined on several hinge axes (14-22, 18-24), and may fold around either axis. A spherical ball (26) fits within a ball receiving socket (28) in the corner of each panel. Sealing against leakage, from one side of the panels to the other, is accomplished at this multiple axis point.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly pivotably mounts a vehicle door member to a body structure member. The assembly includes a first hinge strap mounted to one of the members and having a vertical opening. A second hinge strap is mounted to the other member and has a spherical concave surface. A hinge pin is interposed between the hinge straps. The hinge pin has a portion received by the vertical opening of the first hinge strap. The hinge pin has a spherical convex surface for engaging the concave surface of the second hinge strap allowing variance in relative orientation of the hinge pin to the second hinge strap. The hinge pin is rotatably retained to one of the hinge straps allowing pivotable movement between the members. A removable retention bolt is carried between the hinge pin and the other hinge strap for retaining the hinge pin to the other hinge strap. The retention bolt allows removable retention of the door member to the body structure member.

Abstract: A hinge for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle has two hinge halves (1, 2), one (1) of which has a pivot pin (6) and the other (2) of which has a bearing portion (9) pivotally mounted on the pivot pin (6). The pivot pin (6) has a spherical end portion (11), onto which the bearing portion (9) fits with a complementary shaped cavity, and a narrower neck portion (12). A lock (18) cooperates with the neck portion (12) of the pivot pin (6) and the bearing portion (9) to lock the hinge halves (1, 2) against relative movement in the axial direction of the pivot pin (6). The bearing portion (9) has a bearing sleeve (13) journalled on the pivot pin (6), including the complementary shaped cavity therein. A bearing housing (15) has an inside surface which fits over an outside surface of the bearing sleeve (13), and a fastener (16) detachably fastens the bearing sleeve (13) to the bearing housing (15).

Abstract: Jointed fitting for a swing door, window or the like, designed in metal or plastic material and the movable frame whereof is partially overlapping the fixed frame, consisting of an angular support and of a compass bearing. The latter are embodied in a symmetric manner in relation to a median horizontal plane, allowing for their reversibility in view of being used either right or left of the movable frame, with this angular support and this compass bearing comprising, furthermore, means designed for fillister and applied fastening to the fixed frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of securing a first part made of a thermoplastic material to a second part made of an electrically conductive material, a connector mode of an electrically conductive material being placed in the part made of a thermoplastic material and subsequently being welded to the part made of an electrically conductive material. A metal ball is used for the connector, which ball is inserted into an opening in the first part and is brought into contact with the second part, after which the ball is welded to the second part by means of a welding electrode.

Abstract: A laterally swinging hinge, which can longitudinally turn back and forth at an angle of approximately 315.degree., and which is to be mounted on an ordinary door or automobile door; the hinge can also have a laterally swinging angle of at least 5.degree. in either direction so as to eliminate the possible trouble and drawbacks caused by the conventional hinge upon installing two or more than two hinges on one door and upon the center line of the two hinges not being aligned exactly; in that case, the conventional hinges can suffer from a bad friction or cause the door to be bent or unable to be operated normally. The hinge mainly comprises a set of hinge butts, a center shaft being inserted through the cylinder of the hinge butts; the center shaft is substantially a slender cylinder including a ball-shaped part in the mid portion thereof, an upper rod and a lower rod for holding the two butts.

Abstract: A hingeable plate assembly includes first and second substantially flat glass plates and first and second displaceable hinges for hingeably connecting the plates so that the second plate is outwardly displaceable with respect to the first plate in substantially parallel aligned relation thereto. The hinges each include first and second hinge pieces which are attached to the first and second plates, respectively, and pivot elements which are captured between the respective first and second hinge pieces thereof. The pivot elements are preferably formed as spherical balls which are received in elongated slots in the respective first hinge pieces thereof and sockets in the respective second hinge pieces thereof. The ball elements can rotate in the respective slots and/or sockets thereof to enable the second plate to be hinged relative to the first plate, and they can travel in the respective slots thereof to enable the second plate to be displaced outwardly from the first plate.

Abstract: A pivot axle bearing for a sun visor, the one end of which bearing is connected to the ceiling of a vehicle and the other end of which is connected to the sun visor. At least one end of the pivot axles of the sun visor is formed by at least one universal joint coupling, the component parts of which are resiliently connected together and which, when the sun visor is subjected to a force directed in the plane of the visor and exceeding a given magnitude, are forced out of engagement with one another. This ensures that a passenger will not be seriously injured by contact with the visor.

Abstract: A hinge for mounting an access door on a room air conditioner has a hinge member having a tang at one end engaging a slot on the air conditioner front frame to mount the hinge member in a fixed position. The other end of the hinge member has a pair of resilient legs interspaced by a projection and which carry projecting trunnions on their outer ends. The door has a notch in its side having opposed side walls with bores that receive the projecting trunnions to pivot the door about the hinge member. The hinge provides a self-latching arrangement by a projecting, resilient tongue on the hinge member which engages a projecting lug on the door to resiliently bias the door to a closed position when it is within a predetermined distance from the closed position.

Abstract: A two piece dispensing closure for a container in which one piece is a cap having means for attachment to the container such as internal threads which engage external threads on the container and a flat top having a dispensing orifice. The second piece of the closure is a lid connected to the cap by a detachable hinge. The hinge is constructed with a pair of posts projecting adjacent the perimeter of the cap or lid into slots in the other of the cap and lid to permit movement between a closed position in which the dispensing lid is covered to an open dispensing position. The hinge is hidden in the closed position providing a pleasing symmetrical appearance.

Abstract: A hinge with a left-hand side flap plate and a right-hand side flap plate, each of which has no tubular portion for receiving a shaft bar. Each side flap plate has on its end at least one shaft plate having at least one communication hole and at least one semicircular locking hole. The semicircular holes come in contact with each other to form a circular portion when the shaft plates of the right and left flap plates are fitted together. In this circular portion a ball having a washer is fitted. The shaft plates, communication holes and the ball are covered with core shafts communicating with the opposite surface of the shaft plates. The core shafts are made of synthetic resin or die casting alloy.

Abstract: A screen wall of a shower space comprises a wall section in the form of a screen which is pivoted about its vertical center line. The screen (2) is provided on one side with bow-shaped bars (8) for hanging articles for drying and can be rotated at least 180.degree. about its vertical center line. The flat side of the screen can thus face the shower space when it is used for showering. When articles have been hanged on the bars (8) for drying, the screen can be swung 180.degree. placing the bars and the articles inside the shower space where they can drip and are no longer visible from outside the shower space.

Abstract: A tachograph assembly including a casing and a cover member pivotally mounted on the casing with a first pivotal bearing member being formed on a first part of the cover member and a second pivotal bearing member being formed on a casing extension which, together with the cover member, forms the front face of the tachograph assembly in a generally common plane. The second bearing member has an outer radius which corresponds to the inner radius of the first bearing member and a bearing spindle in the form of an elongated lip is formed on the second part of the cover member for engagement with the second bearing member to enable pivotal motion of the cover member relative to the casing. The first part of the cover member includes alignment elements which operate in cooperation with corresponding elements in the casing to align the cover member within the casing when the cover is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method of producing pulverized coal as fuel for pulverized-coal pilot burners of pulverized-coal annular burners or of systems thereof in a power plant having auxiliary steam generators. The raw coal undergoes or is subjected to a pulverizing-drying, and the pulverized coal which is produced is separated off in a separating system and is supplied either directly or after temporary storage by means of a suitable transporting system to the pilot burners. The thermal drying energy for the pulverizing system is taken from the flue gases of the auxiliary steam generator. The foregoing method can also be utilized for pulverized-coal burners or systems thereof.

Abstract: A cover at one end of a rod member is pivotably connected to one end of a bracket by a pin. The bracket and cover are U-shaped in transverse section. A portion of the cover overlies a portion of the bracket in all positions of the cover. The cover is journaled on bosses on the bracket and circumscribes the pin.

Abstract: Fully imidized polyimidisiloxanes which are based on oxydiphthalic anhydride are soluble in diglyme which gives them particular utility in the micro-electronics industry. The polymers are prepared from oxydiphthalic anhydride, a difunctional siloxane monomer and an organic diamine that provides an assymetrical structure in the polyimidesiloxane polymer chain. The polyimide-siloxane can be prepared with functional groups which render them directly curable. The polyimidesiloxanes can also be prepared with functional groups which when reacted with an unsaturated compound renders the polymers curable. The products of the invention can be used in the form of solutions in the micro-electronic industry. The polymers can also be used in wire and cable coating and to prepare films, fibers, and molded and extruded articles.