Abstract: A spinal interbody device, system and method can include use of an interbody cage and plate. The interbody cage can include at least one of a key and a keyway configured to mate with at least one of a mating keyway and key located on the plate. The key and keyway can be configured such that the cage and plate are quickly and easily attached and detached from each other, and such that positional relationship between the cage and plate can be arrived at quickly, accurately, and with tactile and/or audile notice to the practitioner.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) comprising a compressor (2); a turbine (3); and a bearing housing (4), in which there is arranged a bearing cartridge (5), secured against axial displacement and twisting; and a single fixing element (6) securing the bearing cartridge (5) both against axial displacement and also twisting in the bearing housing (4). Also a method for assembling a bearing cartridge (5) in a bearing housing (4) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1).

Abstract: A buckle includes a base that receives therein a pressing board having a front end pivotally coupled to the base and a rear end provided with a clutch portion for clutching a tooth of a head strap, and an operating member that is received in the base and corresponds to a back of the pressing board. The operating member has two buttons. When an arcuate bar pressing against the operating member is pressed inward, the arcuate bar deforms and pushes the pressing board to swing outward, making the clutch portion disengage from the tooth of the head strap, so that length adjustment of the head strap is allowed. After the adjustment, the pressing board automatically swings back due to the tension of the head strap, so that the clutch portion clutches another tooth of the head strap to position the head strap.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to fastening systems. Specifically, this invention relates to a twist-lock button configured to securely fasten two articles together. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the twist-lock button comprises four pieces: a handle, a locking portion, a negative, and a button adapter. The negative attaches to an article by way of the button adapter. The locking portion attaches to the handle and passes through a button hole in the article to join with the negative by twisting 180 degrees, thereby fastening the two portions of the article together between the handle and the negative. This mechanism is more durable than hook and loop fasteners, more reliable than buttons and snaps, and less prone to jamming than zippers. In addition, the twist-lock button is easier to use for people with muscular or motor disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, ALS, stroke recoverees, and amputees. These features and others will be detailed in greater depth within.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may include a clip mounting seat having a clip attachment surface, a peripheral wall and an opening. The peripheral wall extends from the clip attachment surface. The opening opens a part of an outer peripheral edge of the clip attachment surface. The clip attachment surface has an attachment hole, a guide groove and a tongue. The guide groove guides an insertion of a neck portion of the clip from the opening into the attachment hole. The tongue protrudes from an edge of the guide groove towards the attachment hole. The tongue is deflected to permit the neck portion to enter from the opening into the attachment hole. When the neck portion moves from the attachment hole toward the opening, the tongue is deflected by the neck portion in a closing direction.

Abstract: A one-handed connector apparatus includes a male portion that is receivable in a female portion. The male portion includes a plurality of protuberances that extend from a base and that are receivable in a receptacle formed in the female portion. A compressive force applied to an outboard one of the protuberances deflects the outboard protuberance toward an inboard protuberance and causes the outboard and inboard protuberances to together be elastically deflected from a first position to a second position. In the first position, a set of first latching structures situated on the protuberances are in an interference position with a set of corresponding second latching structures that are situated on the female portion. In the second position, the first latching structures are moved out of the interference position, thereby permitting the male portion to be removed from the female portion.

Abstract: A flexible closure element for a closure of a medical or orthopedic product or sports product includes a first and second elastic cover layer and a sheet-type stabilizing element therebetween. The sheet-type stabilizing element is slotted over a least half of a length of the stabilizing element on at least one of two longitudinally running edges.

Abstract: A latching device secures a strap to a piece of sports equipment. The latching device includes a buckle and a base. The buckle has a main body portion. The main body portion has an integrally formed collet and has a first slot and a second slot. The first and second slots each having a plurality of teeth shaped members that are configured to secure the strap to the buckle. The base is attached to the piece of sports equipment. The base has a first shaft and an annular ring. The first shaft has a first end and a second end. A ball shaped member is attached to the first end of the first shaft. The annular ring is formed on a periphery of the base surrounding the first shaft. The ball shaped member is releasably received in the collet to releasably engage the buckle with the base.

Abstract: A snap hook is provided. A body of the snap hook includes a hook shaped mid portion positioned between a nose portion and a connection portion. The body further has an opening to an inner edge that is positioned between the nose end and the connection portion. A gate is pivotally coupled proximate the connection portion of the body. The gate selectively pivots in relation to the body between a closed configuration and an open configuration. A gate holding portion is configured and arranged to be selectively received between at least one wall stop and at least one catch formed by at least one slot in the nose portion of the body to selectively lock the gate in the closed configuration. Moreover, a trigger is further operationally coupled to move the gate holding portion to clear the at least one catch of the nose portion when activated.

Abstract: A buckle assembly has a base portion with a strap retaining bar and an inner opening disposed between the side walls, and a locking portion having a strap retaining bar and a protrusion extending outwardly from each of the side walls. The length of the locking portion is greater than the length of the opening, and the width of the opening is wider than the width of the locking portion. The side walls of the base portion each have a slot arranged to accommodate the protrusions on the locking portion when the locking portion is placed on the base portion. The locking portion is connected to the base portion by sliding the locking portion through the opening from the bottom side to the top side of the base portion, aligning the locking portion to extend parallel to the base portion, and snapping the protrusions into the slots.

Abstract: Snap buttons can snap into garments, or other such articles, that are made for them and stay on until a user desires to change them. There are no sharp parts and placement and removal of the buttons is safe, quick and easy, with no need to insert pin holes in garments. A kit can include a garment with female spring snaps disposed therein to allow a user to insert buttons thereon. The kit can include a set of buttons. Buttons can also be provided separately or traded among friends or family to provide a unique, individualized look for each person.

Abstract: A side release buckle includes a plug and a socket into which the plug is inserted for engagement. The plug includes: a base provided with a belt attachment; a pair of legs projecting from the base; an engaging portion formed to the legs; and a connecting portion connecting the legs to each other. The socket includes: a body provided with a belt attachment and an insertion opening; a housing space formed in the body and housing the legs inserted from the insertion opening; an engaged portion formed in the body and engageable with the engaging portion; and a cutout dented toward the insertion opening from an edge of the belt attachment. The cutout is formed over an area surrounded by the legs and the connecting portion when the legs and the connecting portion are housed in the housing space while the engaging portion and the engaged portion are engaged.

Abstract: Buttons are disclosed. The buttons can have a female portion and a male portion. The female portion can include a member configured to engage and retain the male portion. The female portion can include one or more of an annular elastic portion, a movable member with a magnet and a spring.

Abstract: A snap button is provided, which can function as both of a male snap and a female snap without accurate alignment or positioning two snap buttons to be engaged with each other. The snap button comprises a button body, wherein the button body includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses, which are circumferentially alternately arranged. Each of the projections includes at least one salient and each of the recesses includes at least one protrusion. Each of the projections may be shaped as a horizontal cross-section thereof gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end. Further, the circumferential range of each recess is larger than that of each projection. The protrusion may have one or more cutouts, and the salient may be hemispherically shaped.

Abstract: A buckle includes a male member having a pair of flexible arms mutually facing each other and disposed extending from a base part, and a female member to connect to the male member by coupling with the pair of arms. The male member has a flexible bridge connecting the pair of arms. The bridge is connected to an opposing face of each of the pair of arms facing the other arm. At the connecting portion where each of the pair of arms and the bridge are connected, the bridge is placed projecting toward the other arm from the opposing face on the arm following a tangential direction to a circle being centered on the base end of the arm and having a distance from the base end to the connecting portion as a radius.

Abstract: A cable connector comprising a housing comprising a first and second housing parts adapted to be connected into a closed state and be separated into an open state. The first housing part holds a first core wire of the first cable and a first joining part attached to an end of the first core wire and adapted to move in a first and second direction along a first sliding path. The second housing part holding a second core wire or string of the second cable and a second joining part attached to an end of the second core wire or string and adapted to move in a first and second direction along a second sliding path. First and second engagement surfaces of first and second joining parts, abut and form a contact surface for transmitting force along the first and second sliding paths between the first and second joining parts.

Abstract: Snap fastener for fastening a first thin wall to a second thin wall, having a base part to be arranged in a through-opening of the first thin wall. A head part extends away from the base part. The head part presents a guide for two holding elements which are pressed by a spring so that they project out over the end of the guide. The head part includes a housing with fastening projections, and can be snapped into the through-opening so that it grips only one thin wall. Unlocking devices, via which the holding elements can be pulled back into the housing from the front, are provided in the housing. The holding elements are formed by the ends of a two-armed lever which is held on a shaft in the housing so as to be rotatable at an angle of approximately 45 to 90 degrees against spring force.

Abstract: A snap ring for fishing implements is provided. The snap ring includes a hook-like body having an opening on a portion thereof, a rotary shaft coupled on one side to a portion of the body such that the rotary shaft is rotatable around the opening, a hollow guide into which the rotary shaft is fitted and slides along, and a guide spring provided between the rotary shaft and the guide to elastically support the guide against the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An interchangeable and detachable accessory addition to clothing accessories, handbags, shoes, and apparel provides a wide variety of fashionable and easily interchangeable looks. This helps keep the wardrobe compact while at the same time providing a wide variety of fashionable looks. Interchangeable and detachable accessory addition does not tear at clothing, can be easily removed, mixed and matched with ease for the busy Fashionistas on the go.

Abstract: A fastener (1) is provided for clamping a first component (25) to a second component (27). The fastener has at least one resiliently deformable snap-fit member (5) which, in use, is inserted from a first side of the components through a channel (29, 31) extending thereacross. The snap-fit (5) member has an abutment surface (7) which, on emerging from the channel (29, 31), enters into snap-fit engagement with an opposing second side of the components to prevent retraction of the snap-fit member (5). The fastener (1) further has a spring arrangement which presses on the first side of the components on the insertion of the snap-fit member (5) to apply a compressive clamping force across the components between the spring arrangement and the abutment surface (7).

Abstract: Fasteners comprising male and female assemblies. At least one of the male or female assembly may comprise a flexible base that flexes to conform to a non-planar mounting surface. The flexible base is bonded to the stud and/or the socket using techniques that provide a high degree of strength to withstand repeated engagement and disengagement of the fastener. Moreover, in certain embodiments the bonding techniques eliminate the need for mechanical means (for example, threads) to secure the stud to the flexible base. Mechanical tests show that the male assembly according to certain embodiments has 62% more strength than known male assemblies.

Abstract: A device for fastening includes a first component including an aperture, and a second component including a base with a perpendicular post to be inserted into the aperture to engage the fastener and of a diameter similar to the diameter of the aperture, a sprung latch with a flange to be inserted into the aperture along with the post that engages the surface of the first component underneath the aperture to fasten the second component to the first component, a rotating actuator that rotates on an axis on the base and actuates the flanges to allow clearance for insertion or extraction from the aperture, and a hinge to assemble the rotating actuator to the base.

Abstract: There is provided a metallic male snap part (1) capable of enhancing coupling strength with a female snap part (3) by giving appropriate and sufficient elastic deformability to the projection (20) of the male snap part (1) which can be coupled to a depression (50) of the female snap part (3). The projection (20) includes a plurality of relatively highly deformable portions (26a) and a plurality of relatively low deformable portions (26b), the highly and low deformable portions being arranged alternately in the circumference direction of the projection (20). The highly deformable portions (26a) are more deformable elastically in the radial direction of the projection (20) than the low deformable portions (26b). Each of the highly deformable portions (26a) has a relatively large, outer bulge (24a) which bulges more outward in the radial direction than a relatively small, outer bulge (24b) of each of the low deformable portions (26b).

Abstract: A fastening assembly, connecting a first member and a second member, includes a fastening unit, a mounting portion, a connecting hole defined in the first member, and a mounting hole defined in the second member. The fastening unit includes a fastener and an elastic member. The fastener includes a cap and a post having a resisting portion. The mounting portion is formed on the first member and defines an opening and a sliding slot communicating with each other. The elastic member resists the mounting portion and the cap of the fastener. A part of the post passes through the connecting hole, engages with the second member and is received in the mounting portion via the opening and slidable in the sliding slot. The resisting portion retains the part of the post within the mounting portion.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a system for interlocking a pair of shoes for storage. The system comprises a right shoe having a sole and a first cavity within the sole of the right shoe; a left shoe having a sole and a second cavity within the sole of the left shoe; a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the first cavity or the second cavity; and a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the first cavity or the second cavity; wherein the male fastener and the female fastener may be releasably fastened to each other when rotated in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the soles of the right shoe and the left shoe so as to couple the right shoe and left shoe together.

Abstract: A buckling device for fastening a belt is provided. The buckling device comprises a first portion, a second portion and an elastic portion. The elastic portion is made of a material with a shore hardness substantially between A10 and A95. The elastic portion contacts the first portion and the second portion, so that the second portion engages with the belt and the belt is fastened.

Abstract: A hand-mounted carrier is provided comprising a panel member overlaying at least a portion of the back of the hand. The carrier includes an upper surface facing away from the hand and a lower surface facing toward the hand. The upper surface defines a mounting area thereon for securing at least one accessory. At least one loop member is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around at least one finger of the hand to partially anchor a portion of the panel member to the hand. At least one strap is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around the wrist of the hand to anchor at least a portion of the panel member to the hand.

Abstract: A retention assembly for securing a surface contact card in a portable electronic device includes a main body and a locking member. The main body defines a receiving groove in the main body. The locking member includes a fixing portion fixed on the main body adjacent to the receiving groove, and a pressing portion connected to the fixing portion. When the pressing portion is pressed by an external force, the pressing portion is moved close to the fixing portion. When the external force is released, the pressing portion is moved away from the fixing portion.

Abstract: An elongated shut apparatus includes a primary plate and a follower plate with the inner sides thereof facing to each other. Both the primary and the follower plate are made of soft high molecular material and have a concave shaped cross section with a thick central part getting thinner toward two lateral ends thereof.

Abstract: The plastic snap buckle is provided with a safety latch slidably mounted to an elongated bar of the male plug of the buckle. The latch member is generally rectangular shape having a length equal to the distance between two arcuate portions formed in the free end portion of two flexible arms of the male plug. The latch member may be slidably to locate between the arcuate portion of the flexible arm so as to prevent the flexible arms to be operated inadvertently or forcefully to release the engagement between the male plug and the female receptacle.

Abstract: Right and left fastener parts attached to the right and left ends of a brassier strap. The male fastener part comprises a male tape piece, which is cut out from a male cloth tape on which at least one row of synthetic resin male snap buttons is formed and fastened in such a way that there is at least one button per row. The female fastener part comprises a female tape piece, which is cut out from a female cloth tape on which at least two rows of synthetic resin female snap buttons are formed and fastened in such a way that there is at least one button per row. The male snap button has an engagement protrusion that extends directly from the cloth tape rather than from a base.