Abstract: In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

Abstract: A 3-D printing device, in particular an FFF printing device, comprising at least one printing head unit and at least one feeding device for feeding a printing material to the at least one printing head unit in at least one operating state. According to the invention, the printing head unit is provided for melting a printing material formed at least partially of a high-performance plastic, in particular of a high-performance thermoplastic, in at least one operating state.

Abstract: A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

Abstract: A payout spool for a cable includes a base, a spool, and a disconnect/reconnect device. The cable extends between a first and a second end. The payout spool pays out the cable when the first end of the cable is pulled away from the payout spool. The base includes a terminal for transmitting and/or receiving a signal to and/or from the cable. The spool is rotatably mounted to the base about an axis. The spool is adapted to unwrap the cable about a wrapping area of the spool when the spool is rotated about the axis. The disconnect/reconnect device may be adapted to disconnect the second end of the cable from the terminal when the payout spool pays out the cable and reconnect the same when the payout spool is not paying out the cable.

Abstract: An adjusting device for tightening or loosening a lace is provided. The adjusting device includes a base, a knob and a releasing unit. The releasing unit is disposed in the base and the knob, and the knob is used for winding the lace. The releasing unit and the knob are pivotally disposed in an accommodating space. The releasing unit includes at least one elastic arm corresponding to an annular tooth in the knob. The releasing unit can be raised or lowered on the base. When the releasing unit is raised, the knob can be freely rotated; and when the releasing unit is lowered, the rotation of the knob is limited in a releasing direction.

Abstract: An adjusting device for tightening or loosening a lace is provided. The adjusting device includes a base, a knob and a releasing unit. The releasing unit is disposed in the base and the knob, and the knob is used for winding the lace. The releasing unit and the knob are pivotally disposed in an accommodating space. The releasing unit includes at least one elastic arm corresponding to an annular tooth in the knob. The releasing unit can be raised or lowered on the base. When the releasing unit is raised, the knob can be freely rotated; and when the releasing unit is lowered, the rotation of the knob is limited in a releasing direction.

Abstract: The decoy suspension system is attached to a tree branch or other suitable support and suspends a decoy above the ground. The system includes a reel containing a retractable and extendible line. The reel is attached to the branch or support with a strap having mating hook and loop fasteners. The ease of the reel is preferably camouflaged. The line is preferably a low visibility transparent monofilament fishing line or similar material. The distal end of the line has a small toggle pin attached thereto that can be inserted into the back of the decoy to attach the decoy to the line. The decoy is preferably formed of thin sheets of foam plastic. The decoy may be partially filled with any readily available material to add mass. The swinging and swaying of the decoy at the end of the line produces realistic movement that attracts game animals to the site.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor for anchoring a lift cord in a movable rail of a covering for an architectural opening includes a housing which is releasably positionable interiorly of the movable rail in alignment with a lift cord for the covering with the anchor including a rotatable drum within the housing and around which the lift cord can be wrapped or unwrapped by rotating movement of the drum with a tool. Two distinct systems are provided for releasably securing the drum in any selected position to retain the amount of lift cord wrapped therearound with the two system acting in mutually perpendicular planes for reliable anchoring of the lift cord.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

Abstract: In an object holding device, it is possible to prevent loosening of a cord-like body for holding an object without requiring any user's special operation. The object holding device includes a fixing belt (3) wound on a plastic tank (2), a male buckle (9) provided at a fixing belt, a reel (4) having the fixing belt wound around and urged to rotate in a winding direction of the fixing belt and a reel housing (11) connecting with a male buckle. When the male buckle is connected to the reel housing, a rotation of the reel is restricted at least in a counter-winding direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: A braking device for a rope pulley of a mechanically retractable and extendable leash for walking animals is provided. The rope pulley is supported in a housing such that it is rotatable in an unwinding direction against the force of a spring and in a wind-up direction under the influence of the spring force and cooperates with a brake button of the braking device in order to stop rotation of the rope pulley. The rope pulley is connected to a brake disk that is rotatable relative to the rope pulley against a damping force and that can be locked to the housing.

Abstract: A spool assembly comprising a housing structure, a spool rotatably retained in an interior region of the housing structure, and a sealed sheath encasing the housing structure to define a barrier for the encased housing structure and the rotatably retained spool. The spool assembly further comprises a locking arm disposed outside of the sealed sheath and configured to operably engage the spool through the sealed sheath and through the housing structure in a manner that does not penetrate the sealed sheath, where the locking arm prevents the spool from rotating relative to the housing mechanism when operably engaged with the spool. The locking arm may disengage from the spool in a hands-free manner when the spool assembly is loaded into a bay of an additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: An adjusting device for tightening or loosing laces and straps includes a base, an actuating member and a knob. When a user rotates the knob clockwise, the adjusting device is tightening a flexible strap of the clothing or a lace of the footwear. However, when a user rotates the knob counterclockwise, the adjusting device is loosing a flexible strap of the clothing or a lace of the footwear. The knob never moves up and down along the axis during the operation for tightening or loosing the flexible strap or the lace.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle includes an inertia member (66) that engages an element (54). The inertia member (66) is movable relative to the element (54) from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to at least one sensed vehicle condition for activating the occupant protection device (10). A vertical axis (83) extends through the center of mass of the inertia member (66) when the inertia member (66) is in the unactuated position. At least one of the element (54) and the inertia member (66) has at least one planar surface (80) that extends at an angle relative to the vertical axis (54). The inertia member (66) and element (54) are movable relative to one another along the at least one planar surface (80) to place the inertia member (66) in the actuated position to activate the occupant protection device.

Abstract: A hoist includes a platform, a drum, and a motor. The drum is supported by and configured to rotate with respect to the platform, and the motor is coupled to the drum and configured to rotate the drum. The hoist further includes a shaft having a splined section and an interlock system configured to constrain rotation of the shaft. The shaft is coupled to at least one of the drum and the motor, and communicates torque between the drum and the motor. The interlock system includes a keyed ring and an arm. The keyed ring is configured to slide onto and engage the splined section of the shaft. The arm extends from the keyed ring and is configured to provide leverage to limit rotation of the keyed ring, thereby interlocking rotation of the shaft when the keyed ring is engaged with the splined section of the shaft.

Abstract: A retractable reel rotational control apparatus, comprising a mechanical actuator which simultaneously brakes and locks the reel in a single action of the actuator, and releases the brake and lock with a subsequent action, wherein the reel brake is separate from the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system and a method have a speed-limiting braking mechanism. The apparatus may use a leash to limit a velocity of movement of a pet relative to a velocity of movement of a user of the apparatus. The speed-limiting braking mechanism within the apparatus may prevent the relative velocity from exceeding a predetermined threshold without abruptly stopping unwinding of the leash. The speed-limiting braking mechanism may have a rotatable pinion component connected to one or more brake shoes. The leash may be connected to a spool. Unwinding of the leash may rotate the spool, and rotation of the spool may rotate the pinion component. If the relative velocity exceeds the predetermined threshold, the one or more brake shoes may engage a braking liner to maintain the relative velocity at the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A hose reel includes a support casing, a drum rotatably fitted inside the casing and connected to it by an elastic rewinding element. The drum provides a flange integral with it and couplable in rotation with a locking disc equipped with teeth engageable with opposing teeth capable of stopping its rotation. An elastic separator is provided between the flange and the locking disc to keep the latter in a first position axially distanced from the flange, teeth and counter-teeth mutually engaged to allow the flange to draw the locking disc into integral rotation with it, and cam and counter-cam which, in the event of the flange exceeding a predetermined threshold speed cause the axial displacement of the locking disc into a second position adjoining the flange in which its teeth engage with the opposing teeth to produce the consequent stopping of the rotation of said drum.

Abstract: A shade for architectural openings incorporating a single cord drive featuring automatic braking of the shade when the user releases the drive cord. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic tilt-open mechanism is provided to tilt the shade open when the shade is in the fully extended down position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a spool for a telecommunications cable. The spool prevents twisting of the cable when the spool is operated by requiring that any connections to a side of the spool are disconnected before rotation of the spool can begin. The spool includes a base, a hub, a connector bulkhead, a barrier member, and a hub locking member. A first flange of the hub is rotatably mounted to the base. The connector bulkhead receives a terminated end of the cable and is attached to a second flange of the hub. The barrier member is moveably attached to the second flange of the hub. The barrier member has a first position that obstructs access to the terminated end of the cable and a second position that allows access to the end of the cable.

Abstract: A seatbelt apparatus is provided which can constrain a passenger by ensuring removal of a slack of a lap belt when two pretensioners are activated under two different time frames. A pretensioner of a seatbelt retractor is activated first, and a shoulder belt and a lap belt are pulled in a direction toward the seatbelt retractor. Subsequently, a pretensioner of a belt anchor portion is activated and pulls a seatbelt toward the belt anchor portion, and hence a one-way tongue catches and locks the seatbelt. Accordingly, the shoulder belt is prevented from moving toward the lap belt through the tongue. Therefore, removal of the slack of the lap belt is ensured, and hence a lumber of the passenger is firmly fixed.

Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest system, has a safety line drum mounted for rotation and a speed responsive engagement mechanism responsive to the speed of rotation of the drum, which is activated above a predetermined rotational speed of the drum to deploy an energy absorber. A rotational transmission member (which may be in the form of a shaft) is coupled, via the speed responsive engagement mechanism, when activated, to rotate with the drum. The energy absorber is deployed in response to operation of the rotational transmission member. The speed responsive engagement mechanism may be mounted intermediate the drum and the energy absorber for ease of replacement.

Abstract: A hand activated retainment, storage and deployment device for binding straps used to secure loads on cargo transportation vehicles such as tractor trailers. The device has a winding mechanism with a spooling reel for winding excess binding strap during use and for removable storage of the strap when not deployed.

Abstract: A retractable electrical cord reel for an appliance wherein the cord reel is not internally-housed within the appliance. The retractable cord reel comprises reel housing, electrical plug, electrical cord, a spool assembly, which includes a spring, for winding and unwinding the electrical cord, a latching system, and contact rings or shafts to electrically connect the plug to the electrical cord. The contact rings are connected to floating contacts, which are in turn connected to the electrical plug. The contact rings are further connected to the electrical cord, thus connecting the electrical plug to the electrical cord.

Abstract: A device, for applying a sheet material over objects, includes a frame member, at least one shaft member and a locking member. The frame member includes a base, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend upwardly from the base. The at least one shaft member disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall such that a first end portion and a second end portion extend outwardly away from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively. The at least one shaft member is rotated for wrapping the sheet material around the first end portion, and for unwrapping the sheet material from the first end portion over the objects. The locking member is disposed on the second end portion of each of the at least one shaft member for locking and unlocking rotation of the each of the at least one shaft member.

Abstract: A transportable insulated blanket roller has a support, and a riser coupled to and extending vertically from the support. A bearing support is coupled to the riser, and has an insulated blanket retaining rod passing through the bearing support. The rod has a bifurcation defining first and second insulated blanket holding rods that are operative to receive an insulated blanket therebetween. A crank produces a rotary motion in the retaining rod, in turn winding the blanket onto the blanket holding rods. The transportable insulated blanket roller is combined with a land vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver or comparable coupling or support, and an insulated blanket. A method of efficiently using the transportable insulated blanket roller at a construction site is also presented, including using the bifurcated roller to roll an unrolled insulated blanket, and then sliding the insulated blanket off of the bifurcated roller.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a spool for winding up the seat belt, and a locking mechanism that prevents rotation of the spool. A belt withdrawal sensor actuates when the seat belt is withdrawn at a speed higher than a normal speed. The locking mechanism is actuated based on the actuation of the belt withdrawal sensor. A lock gear rotates with the spool when the locking mechanism is not in operation and rotates relative to the spool when the lock actuation mechanism is in operation. The lock gear actuates the locking mechanism by relative rotation between the lock gear and the spool. The belt withdrawal sensor is disposed on the lock gear allowing the belt withdrawal sensor to oscillate between an inoperative position and an operative position. An oscillation preventive member prevents the oscillation of the belt withdrawal sensor.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a seat belt, a spool, and an emergency locking mechanism for preventing the spool from rotating in a belt withdrawal direction. The emergency locking mechanism allows rotation of the spool not in operation and prevents the rotation of the spool in the belt withdrawal direction when in operation. A lock gear includes ratchet teeth on an outer periphery of the emergency locking mechanism arranged in an annular shape. The lock gear rotates with the spool when the emergency locking mechanism is not in operation and actuates the locking mechanism when the emergency locking mechanism is in operation. A vehicle sensor includes an engaging claw and detects a vehicle deceleration larger than a predetermined deceleration. The engaging claw engages with one of the ratchet teeth to prevent rotation of the lock gear in the belt withdrawal direction.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor for motor vehicles with a vehicle-sensitive or belt webbing sensitive controllable locking device, or both, for the belt shaft, having a profiled head that acts as a support for a displaceably mounted locking member that locks the belt shaft in the housing, and a two-stage force limiting device having two force limiting elements that are switchable between a high level and a low level of force limitation via an interposed coupling (19, 20) that is controlled by means of a control device having a countergear which determines an amount of belt webbing that is extended from the belt shaft.

Abstract: To simplify the structure of a webbing retractor, at a second locking mechanism 44 of the webbing retractor, when a gas generator is not operated, a cam engages with an outer peripheral groove of a lock ring, and a limit load by a torsion shaft is made to be a high load. On the other hand, when the gas generator is operated, the cam is moved apart from the outer peripheral groove of the lock ring, and the limit load by the torsion shaft is made to be a low load. Because only the cam is interposed between the lock ring and a piston which is driven by the gas generator, the number of parts of the second locking mechanism can be reduced, and the structure of the second locking mechanism can be made simple.

Abstract: A cassette for use in delivering a continuous length of filament. The cassette includes a housing having a first aperture and a spool rotatably mountable in the cassette housing. The spool contains a first female receptacle alignable with the first aperture, and a flexible boot is attached to the cassette housing and aligned with the first aperture. A removable plug is insertable through the first aperture and into the flexible boot for receipt within the first female receptacle of the spool to prevent rotation of the spool within the cassette housing.

Abstract: A cassette for use in delivering a continuous length of filament provides improved reliability by employing means for preventing tangling of the filament in the cassette. The cassette has a substantially closed housing defining a chamber in which a spool is rotatably mounted, and a path from the chamber to an exit orifice. A length of filament is wound around the spool and has a free strand positioned in the path. The filament strand is advanced along the path and delivered through the exit orifice by a means for advancing. Tangling is prevented by locking the spool during transport of the cassette to maintain a tight wind, and by guiding the filament strand along a snag-free path as it is withdrawn from the cassette. In the exemplary embodiments, a removable pin locks a flange or hub of the spool, and the filament strand is withdrawn through a tubular guide member.

Abstract: A self-cleaning strainer which may be installed upstream of a heat exchanger to prevent debris greater than a critical size from reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer is preferably mounted just upstream of a heat exchanger in order to minimize the possibility of debris reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer comprises a screen element which can be advanced across the flow path of the fluid between two rollers. The screen element is placed so that the fluid must flow across the screen element face to continue through the process pipe; the screen may be perpendicular or parallel to the fluid flow axis of the strainer body or at an intermediate angle to it. Flow blocking members are used so as to direct the flow to pass through the screen element.

Abstract: A water hose winding apparatus mainly includes an upright plate and a fastening frame, wherein the top portion of the upright plate forms a handle ring and the lower end thereof is disposed with a peg rod; two lateral end portions of the fastening frame form bend portions with forked openings at the distal ends; one end portion of a shaft sleeve pivotally couples at the center of a support plate; the center of a rotary disc is disposed with a shaft hole; the shaft sleeve rotates synchronously with the rotary disc and a shaft; one end of the water hose inserts into the through hole of the rotary disc thereby coiling the hose body around the shaft sleeve; the other end thereof is stored at or pulled outwardly from the forked opening area.

Abstract: A line dispenser for a retractable fence which includes a housing for holding a spool of line, the housing having a hole for communicating the line outside the housing; a crank for rotating the spool to bring the line into the housing through the hole; and a tube located within the hole. The line extends through the tube so that the tube applies a tension on the line as the line is reeled in and pulled out of the housing. This device provides a fence which is substantially tangle-free as the line is reeled into and pulled out of the housing.

Abstract: A locking, hand-held holiday light storage and dispenser device, comprising a base, a rotating tube coupled to the base, and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the rotating tube in position relative to the base in order to permit the storage and dispensing of holiday lights in a tangle-free manner.

Abstract: A compact electric string winder that can be safely and conveniently deployed by masons and other construction workers. The string winder comprises a battery-driven electric motor inside a housing that fits in the palm of a hand and that attaches to a coaxial reel. The reel, or spool, has a receiving bore which receives and clamps upon by friction a rotating shaft pin extending from the motor. A wire spin guard prevents rotation of the reel when it is not in use. A switch lock, which locks the motor in its off position, is provided on a single track that intersects the on/off switch track at a right angle. The string winder is a compact device enabling easy and rapid deployment and retrieval of construction string, thereby enhancing worker efficiency, health and safety.

Abstract: An upright protection container (10) having an upper hatchway (38) which can be closed by means of a hatch cover (36, 36′, 36″) rotatable about an upper horizontal axis (40), is equipped with a withdrawal device (20, 22, 24) provided with a weight (22) and assigned a cable (12) which, at the free end, has a plug (14) intended to be plugged into e.g. an engine heater's socket (46). The hatch cover (36, 36′, 36″) has a ratchet segment (42) in the form of toothed segment in engagement with a ratchet wheel (28′) with a circumferential toothing and incorporated into a combined cable guide pulley-ratchet wheel unit over a certain pivotal angle area (e.g. 30°) of the total rotation (e.g. 90°) of the hatch cover (36, 36′, 36″), between completely open end position and completely closed, down hanging end position, so that the hatch cover (36, 36′, 36″) is blocked in an open intermediate position (e.g.

Abstract: A footwear lacing system includes a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace is threaded through a series of opposing guide members positioned along the top of the foot and ankle portions of the footwear. The lace and guide preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace through the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. A release mechanism allows a user to quickly loosen the lace.