Abstract: A rope adjustor and a wearable item. The rope adjustor includes a base, a rope reel, a first linkage portion is arranged on the rope reel; a rotation-stopping tray, the rotation-stopping tray is arranged on and connected to the base, and the rope reel is arranged inside the rotation-stopping tray, a first rotation-stopping portion is arranged on one side of the rotation-stopping tray away from the base; and a rotatable cover, the rotatable cover is arranged on and rotationally connected to the rotation-stopping tray, and the rotatable cover is insertably connected to the rope reel, and one side of the rotatable cover facing the rotation-stopping tray is provided with a second linkage portion and a second rotation-stopping portion, the first linkage portion is cooperated with the second linkage portion, and the first rotation-stopping portion is cooperated with the second rotation-stopping portion.

Abstract: A line drawing tool includes a body; a reel that is rotatably provided in the body and that includes flanges on two ends of a thread winding shaft; a thread that is wound around the thread winding shaft and that is drawn out to outside of the body with powder that is enclosed in the body being adhered to the thread; and a clearance that is formed between the flanges of the reel and the body, the clearance being provided for allowing the powder that accumulates between the body and the flanges to escape.

Abstract: A device and method for sheathing shrink tubing onto materials such as wire, tape, or cables. The device cannot only sheath short lengths of shrink tubing onto material, but also sheath long lengths shrink tubing onto material. Varying embodiments of this device can insulate whole lengths of material with shrink tubing as well as covering certain sections of material for a more precise application.

Abstract: A webbing take-up device that is both capable of promoting reductions in size and weight and capable of excellently maintaining coupling strength between a pawl member and a ring portion. A clutch plate and a lock ring of this webbing take-up device are coupled by plural teeth provided at the clutch plate meshing with plural teeth provided at the lock ring. This lock ring is specified to have a lower material strength than the clutch plate. A tooth height H2 of the plural teeth of the lock ring is specified to be lower than a tooth height of the plural teeth of the clutch plate. Thus, when the lock ring and the clutch plate mesh, tooth tips of the plural teeth of the clutch plate come into contact with tooth bottoms of the plural teeth of the lock ring.

Abstract: An assembly for a belt retractor includes a vehicle-sensitive sensor and a holding fixture (10) for the sensor. The sensor and the holding fixture (10) have geometric designs that interact and are adjusted to each other so that the sensor can be mounted at various spatial orientations in the holding fixture (10). In a belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt comprising such assembly the holding fixture (10) is coupled with the sensor at a fixed position to the frame of the belt retractor in which a belt reel of the belt retractor is rotatably supported.

Abstract: A self-locking safety belt retractor has a blocking apparatus for a belt shaft mounted rotatably in a housing. The blocking apparatus includes a pawl inserted into a recess of the shaft front of the belt shaft which can be pivoted radially outward into engagement with the blocking apparatus. A blocking gearing (12) is oriented with respect to stop surfaces of the pawl (16) and to force transmission surfaces (25, 32) of the recess (15) such that, when the gear teeth of the pawl (16) are engaged in the blocking gearing (12) under normal load, a force acts between the blocking gearing (12) and the belt shaft (13) in a radial direction. If the load increases in a crash case, a force is transmitted in the circumferential direction due to plastic deformation of at least one housing gear tooth (28, 26) of the blocking gearing (12).

Abstract: A fall arrest block 10 has a spindle on which a length of lifeline 14 is wound. In normal use, the lifeline (preferably webbing) retracts onto and extends from a drum housing 12, as the workman moves towards and away from a secure point to which the housing is attached. In the event of a fall, an inertia mechanism sensitive to acceleration of the spindle operates to lock a locking mechanism to hold the spindle against further rotation. An energy absorbing link 18 is built into the webbing, close to a hook 16 to which the workman is attached. The energy absorbing link 18 includes a section of lifeline that is stretchable, but non-elastic. The locking mechanism includes a toothed ratchet wheel that is engaged by a pawl in order to lock the spindle rotation. The toothed ratchet wheel is part of a unitary body with the spindle.

Abstract: In a tension device for a nonskid chain, a winding reel is supported, so that it can rotate about its axis inside the housing and is prestressed in the winding direction and has a gear rim with teeth arranged along its circumference. A tension line that can be retracted into the housing can be connected to the winding reel, such that a ratchet in a first position blocks a rotational movement of the winding reel in the tension direction by engagement of the ratchet in the teeth. Areas free of teeth on the circumference of the gear rim of the winding reel alternate with areas with teeth.

Abstract: A reel based lacing system is disclosed. The reel can be configured to allow the incremental tightening of a lace about a spool by rotation of a knob in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the system can include a substantially inflexible pawl beam configured to resist rotation of the knob in the loosening direction and a pawl spring configured to bias the pawl against the housing and to allow the pawl to be displaced away from the housing when the knob is rotated in the tightening direction.

Abstract: A retractable cord reel is disclosed. The retractable cord reel may have a spool having a conductor carried thereon. The cord reel may also have a conductor lead coupled to a ratchet. The spool and the ratchet may be configured to make an electrical connection with each other.

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 lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.

Abstract: A hose reel has a latch assembly for catching a ratchet element on a hose reel spool. The hose reel includes a hose reel frame and a hose reel guide arm, both of which are capable of mounting the latch assembly.

Abstract: The toilet foot flushing apparatus quickly converts a hand-flushed toilet to a foot-flushed toilet, without the need of tools. The included lever of the apparatus replaces the existing toilet lever, by hand. The pedal is about 1 foot in length, thereby providing sufficient leverage to the lever via the cable. The lever is attached to flush mechanism on the exterior of an existing toilet reservoir. The spring-loaded pedal returns to a position slightly above the base when released, thereby releasing lever pressure. The geared pedal to base action provides sturdy long-lived flush function. The apparatus does not require any form of floor invasion, as the base need not be mounted to the floor. The cable retainer provides length adjustment for the cable so that a plurality of toilet reservoirs and flush mechanisms can be successfully converted to foot flush.

Abstract: A handheld control device for a pet leash includes a rope reeled on a braking reel, a pawl unit pivotable by operation of a spring-loaded pushbutton to engage one ratchet tooth of the braking reel so as to disable rotation of the braking reel in an unwinding direction, and a locking lever operable to swing a weight end between unlocked and locked positions to disengage from and engage the pawl unit, respectively, so as to selectively prohibit rotation of the braking reel in both winding and unwinding directions and control the length of the rope that extends outwardly of a housing.

Abstract: A lace winding device includes a base, a spool rotatably mounted in the base, a lace having two distal ends each extending through the base and each secured on the spool, a limit barrel mounted on the base, a drive member rotatably mounted in the limit barrel and connected with the spool to rotate the spool, and a ratchet block movably mounted on the limit barrel and engaging the drive member. Thus, the drive member is rotated in one direction only by limit of the ratchet block so that the spool is driven by the drive member to rotate in the positive direction only and cannot be rotated in the opposite direction so as to wind the lace easily and quickly.

Abstract: A retractable cord reel is disclosed. The retractable cord reel may have a spool having a conductor carried thereon. The cord reel may also have a conductor lead coupled to a ratchet. The spool and the ratchet may be configured to make an electrical connection with each other.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a centrifugally-operated apparatus that comprises at least a shaft with an axis of rotation and a pawl that is coaxially mounted on the shaft with at least a portion of the pawl being movable radially inwardly and outwardly from the shaft. The axis of rotation of the shaft passes through the pawl, at a location that is radially offset from the center of mass of the pawl. Rotation of the shaft and pawl above a predetermined speed can cause at least the movable portion of the pawl to be moved radially outward from the shaft, in which position an engaging end of the movable portion of the pawl may engage with a component such as a ratchet.

Abstract: A reel based lacing system is disclosed. The reel can be configured to allow the incremental tightening of a lace about a spool by rotation of a knob in the tightening direction. In some embodiments, the system can include a substantially inflexible pawl beam configured to resist rotation of the knob in the loosening direction and a pawl spring configured to bias the pawl against the housing and to allow the pawl to be displaced away from the housing when the knob is rotated in the tightening direction.

Abstract: A pawl assembly comprising a pawl held in a floating engagement with a support structure and being operable to engage a ratchet, the support structure having an abutment portion, wherein in a first phase, on initial contact with the ratchet, the pawl remains in the floating engagement and is operable to move into a second phase, in which the pawl is operable to contact the abutment portion, to rotate the pawl towards full engagement with the ratchet.

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: 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 wire strainer has a ratcheted spool rotatably attached to a frame to rotate in a desired direction when tensioning and able to freewheel otherwise. At least one oval/elliptical hole in the shaft accommodates one, two or more wires therein in a particular orientation on the shaft. The oval/elliptical hole is adapted to be dimensioned and positioned on the shaft such that the integrity and strength of the shaft is not compromised or lessened. A projection and a two plane guide means can be situated on the spool whereby the projection is positioned and engages with a portion of a wire and the two plane guide is positioned and assists in deflecting the length of wire not engaged with the projection away from the projection as the spool is rotated during the straining of a wire. Y-shaped reinforcing ribs on the frame provide strengthening and rigidity while tensioning.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved reel assembly for use in conjunction with an occupant restraint system. The assembly employs a dual locking arrangement whereby an occupant can be restrained during both major and minor incidents. After a major incident, the reel assembly remains locked until the occupant disengages the reel via a push button. After a minor incident, the reel assembly can be conveniently unlocked, without the need for accessing the push button, by applying counter tension to the webbing.

Abstract: A security storage container has a primary security feature that is adapted to be locked and unlocked with an appropriate key. A secondary security feature is activated when the security storage container is opened without first unlocking the lock with the key. In one embodiment, the secondary security feature includes prongs that are moved to an extended position when the primary security feature of the container is defeated. In the extended position, the prongs will at least damage the item of merchandise protected by the security storage container. The extended position of the prongs may also further lock the item of merchandise within the security storage container.

Abstract: A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables extend through both a fastener and a base of the locking member and are wrapped around all six sides of a box-like structure. The fastener is releasably snap-fitted into the base of the locking member and secured therein by a magnetically attractable tine. The ratchet mechanism includes a housing containing a spool and a locking pawl. A bottom wall encloses a portion of the housing and includes a rotatable central portion having a key receiving recess for unlocking the spool from the pawl. The housing has a rotatable top wall portion which includes a flip-up handle for rotating the top wall portion and the internal ratchet to tighten the cable about an article. An alarm system is contained in the housing of the ratchet mechanism and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. An LED located within the housing provides a visual indication that the alarm system is activated.

Abstract: A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables extend through both a fastener and a base of the locking member and are wrapped around all six sides of a box-like structure. The fastener is releasably snap-fitted into the base of the locking member and secured therein by a magnetically attractable tine. The ratchet mechanism includes a housing containing a spool and a locking pawl. A bottom wall encloses a portion of the housing and includes a rotatable central portion having a key receiving recess for unlocking the spool from the pawl. The housing has a rotatable top wall portion which includes a flip-up handle for rotating the top wall portion and the internal ratchet to tighten the cable about an article. An alarm system is contained in the housing of the ratchet mechanism and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. An LED located within the housing provides a visual indication that the alarm system is activated.

Abstract: A security device a plurality of cables which are securable about an item of merchandise with a locking member and a cable-tightening mechanism each connected to the cables in a spaced apart manner. The locking member includes a key portion for unlocking the tightening mechanism when the cable is removed from the item. The tightening mechanism includes a spool and a ratchet mechanism. Alternate embodiments for locking and unlocking the ratchet mechanism are disclosed. The tightening mechanism carries sense loops which if compromised actuate an onboard audible alarm. The cables are part of one or more of the sense loops. The device is configured to sound a security gate alarm upon passing through the gate and upon simply reaching a certain distance from the gate. The tightening mechanism includes a housing having a flip-up handle for tightening the ratchet mechanism to tighten the cable.

Abstract: A safety element retention system having a reel upon which a safety element or strap may be wound, a spring return mechanism, for rewinding the reel and retrieving the safety strap, and further having at least one locking plate, connected integrally with the reel, with a locking hook associated with the reel, a ramp adjacent the hook, a locking dog adjacent to the hook and being swingable about a pivot axis, a damping device connected to said dog for slowing down movement a spring biassing the dog into a predetermined first position, and, a ramp follower member to contact the ramp on the locking plate, and cause the dog to move against the biassing force of the spring, into engagement with a hook on the locking plate, the biassing force of the spring causing swinging of the dog in the reverse direction, during normal operation, to remove the dog out from the path of the hook.

Abstract: A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables extend through both a fastener and a base of the locking member and are wrapped around all six sides of a box-like structure. The fastener is releasably snap-fitted into the base of the locking member and secured therein by a magnetically attractable tine. The ratchet mechanism includes a housing containing a spool and a locking pawl. A bottom wall encloses a portion of the housing and includes a rotatable central portion having a key receiving recess for unlocking the spool from the pawl. The housing has a rotatable top wall portion which includes a flip-up handle for rotating the top wall portion and the internal ratchet to tighten the cable about an article. An alarm system is contained in the housing of the ratchet mechanism and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. An LED located within the housing provides a visual indication that the alarm system is activated.

Abstract: A reel consists in a drum in use to locate a windable material therearound, a rotatable handle and gearing having a ratio greater than 1:1. The gearing connects the handle with the drum. The gearing includes protruding means which can protrude from the drum or from the gearing. Rotation of the handle drives the protruding means to rotate the drum.

Abstract: A fall safety device is provided having a load-bearing rotor 2, which supports at least one locking member 6, which can be moved by centrifugal force and which is moved into engagement with at least one stop 7b of a stator 4 if a certain rotor speed is exceeded and blocks the further rotation of the rotor 2. The locking member 6 and/or the stop 7b is in active connection with a braking body 8, which undergoes a plastic deformation when engaging the fall safety device and damps the stopping process.

Abstract: A dual-mode hose roller including a crank and a mounting plate may be used to roll up collapsed hose into either a compact hose roll or an expanded hose coil. The crank and mounting plate are arranged to facilitate transmission of torque from the crank to the desired type of hose winding. When a compact hose roll is desired, torque is transmitted directly to the hose. When an expanded hose coil is desired, torque is transmitted to the hose through the mounting plate and several extension arms. The extension arms are sized so that the hose roller forms an expanded hose coil having a suitable diameter for structural fire hose. The mounting plate is rotatably mounted on a fixed support through a bearing and, optionally, a ratchet mechanism. Using the hose roller, preparation is made for fighting a structural fire arranging a section of collapsed hose into a hose bundle. A section of hose is rolled up into an expanded hose coil and arranged into a number of hose loops to form a hose bundle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a plurality of lines to a light weight flying device such as a kite or model airplane stores, winds up, and releases the lines on individual, separable spools. The spools are held in a recess in a housing. Each line leads from its spool through spaced apart individual line guides to the device so that the device may be controlled by manipulation of the housing. A winding handle is mounted on an arm connected to an axle on which the spools are rotatably mounted in the recess. In a first, or winding, position of the arm, rotation of the handle rotates the axle and the spools for winding up the lines. An anti reverse ratchet mechanism prevents unwinding of the lines. In a second, or release, position of the arm, the spools are freed from rotation with the axle, an adjustable drag is operative to prevent free spooling or backlash, and the anti reverse is releasable by a manual control for controllably releasing the lines.

Abstract: A dual-mode hose roller including a crank and a mounting plate may be used to roll up collapsed hose into either a compact hose roll or an expanded hose coil. The crank and mounting plate are arranged to facilitate transmission of torque from the crank to the desired type of hose winding. When a compact hose roll is desired, torque is transmitted directly to the hose. When an expanded hose coil is desired, torque is transmitted to the hose through the mounting plate and several extension arms. The extension arms are sized so that the hose roller forms an expanded hose coil having a suitable diameter for structural fire hose. The mounting plate is rotatably mounted on a fixed support through a bearing and, optionally, a ratchet mechanism. Using the hose roller, preparation is made for fighting a structural fire arranging a section of collapsed hose into a hose bundle. A section of hose is rolled up into an expanded hose coil and arranged into a number of hose loops to form a hose bundle.

Abstract: A cable winding housing for a cable used to interconnect a computer and an external peripheral device. The housing includes a spring-operated, winding cylindrical shaft around which the cable is wound, a teeth wheel assembly superposed around the shaft, and a spring-loaded locking element configured for locking between two of the teeth on the teeth wheel, wherein the locking element is releasable from outside of the housing. When the locking element is locked into the teeth wheel, the shaft is prevented from rotating such that the cable can not be unwound from or wound into the housing. When the locking element is released from the teeth wheel, the shaft can rotate and the cable can alternatively be either wound into or unwound from the housing. The housing prevents a cable used to interconnect two devices from becoming entangled with other cables and ensures that each cable is taut and does not sag downward, thereby providing a neat connection.

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.