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: A spool apparatus is described to include in one particular example a cable spool with a first cylindrical lip and a second cylindrical lip on an opposite side of the cable spool. A center of the spool includes a clutch bearing in the center of both the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip that provides a rotational axis for the cable spool to rotate around. The apparatus may also include a feed slot near the first cylindrical lip that provides a passage for cable to pass from the second cylindrical lip to the first cylindrical lip.

Abstract: A device for collecting, storing and deploying inflatable slides and play structures. In general, the device comprises an elongated barrel, an end cap immediately adjacent to each end of the elongated barrel, a ratchet device removably connected to each end of the elongated barrel, a handle connected to each ratchet device, and a slot running along the length of the elongated barrel. The device is used to collect an inflatable by attaching ratchet devices which are attached to handles to each end of the elongated barrel, inserting a portion of an inflatable into the slot of the elongated barrel; and alternatively pulling and pushing each handle to incrementally wind the inflatable around the elongated barrel.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a device for supporting and storing wound material thereon may include a substantially cylindrical, hollow bobbin having a thickness defined by an inner and outer diameter for supporting and storing material wound around the exterior surface thereof, and a reinforcing apparatus located at one end of the bobbin, the apparatus having generally a cylindrical shape and a length comprising two zones, the outside surface of the first zone being in contact with a portion of an inner surface of the bobbin, and the second zone of the apparatus extending beyond the end of the bobbin.

Abstract: A spool for winding metallic wire, comprising a tubular body for supporting the coil of wire that is provided, at ends thereof, with wall elements, each wall element comprising a flat flange with a stiffening fold at the outer edge, jointly connected by welding to the corresponding end of the tubular body, and a flat complementary flange, seamed by spot welding to the outer surface of the flange, at least one pawl being jointly connected to the complementary flange of at least one wall element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for unwinding a flexible support wire for vines, comprising a dispenser having a rack (12) provided with means for fastening to a carrier cable, a winding reel (14) for said support wire, mounted on the rack (12) rotatably about an axis of rotation, and rotational retention means for the winding reel (14), which are capable of assuming a retention state in which the rotation of the winding reel (14) is blocked and a release state in which the winding reel (14) is able to rotate freely. The device includes remote control means for guiding the changeover of the retaining means from the retention state to the release state and conversely.

Abstract: A reel includes a hub formed in a cylindrical-tube-shape with a base portion, on an outer peripheral surface of which a recording tape is wound; a base side flange portion that projects-out to a radial direction outer side of a base portion side of the hub; a flange member configured in a disc-shape or an annular-plate-shape of a material with an elastic modulus at least equal to a material that constitutes the hub, the flange member being coaxially joined to an opening end portion of the hub; a metal plate formed in a circular-plate-shape or an annular-plate-shape, which is fixed coaxially to the base portion of the hub; and a groove wall that is formed integrally with the base portion of the hub and forms a groove portion which is continuous around the entire periphery between the groove wall and an outer peripheral surface of the metal plate.

Abstract: A reel comprising a hub formed in the shape of a cylindrical tube with a base, on an outer peripheral surface of which a recording tape is wound; a base side flange portion that projects-out to a radial direction outer side of a base portion side of the hub; a flange member configured in a disc shape or an annular plate shape of a material with an elastic modulus at least equal to a material that constitutes the hub, the flange member being coaxially joined to an opening end portion of the hub; a metal plate formed in a circular plate shape or an annular plate shape, which is fixed coaxially to the base portion of the hub; and plate retention portions that are formed integrally with the base portion of the hub and touch an outer peripheral surface of the metal plate at at least four locations, which are at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the hub.

Abstract: The invention of the present application provides a reel, which comprises a cylindrical resin hub with a base and an outer peripheral surface around which a recording tape is wound, a reel gear formed at an outer surface of a base portion of the hub which engages with a drive gear of a drive device, a metal reel plate provided at the outer surface of the base portion of the hub on a radially inner side of the reel gear by insert molding, a gate trace formed on the base portion of the hub, and a plurality of groove portions formed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction between the reel gear and the reel plate. The groove portions are formed at least at a predetermined area on a virtual straight line connecting a center portion of the hub and a gate trace.

Abstract: A reel of a recording tape cartridge has a reel hub formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder; an annular reel gear; an upper flange; a lower flange; and a reel plate. A reel gear is provided coaxially at an outer surface of a floor of the reel hub, and meshes with a driving gear of a rotating shaft of a drive device. A reference surface is provided integrally at an outer side of the floor. The upper flange extends integrally toward a radial direction outer side from an open end of the reel hub. The lower flange is mounted to a floor side end of the reel hub, and opposes the upper flange. The reel plate is fixed to the outer surface of the floor, and is attracted by a magnet of the rotating shaft without being contacted by the magnet.

Abstract: A hand-separable ribbon spool shaft assembly adapts a plain ribbon spool so as to provide drive and location functions. The shaft assembly is composed of at least two shaft parts that are assembled to the ribbon spool and cooperate to provide a manual hand-action locking mechanism. First and second ends of the shaft assembly provide bearing and locating surfaces when the shaft assembly is positioned in a printer. The bearing and locating services allow the ribbon spool shaft assembly to rotate during operation of the printer, and the assembly further includes a gear drive means for driving the rotating ribbon spool.

Abstract: A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The spool includes a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core. At least one ring on the support encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment, the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.

Abstract: A versatile core has a tubular body with opposing ends and includes a circumferential wall for receiving the sheet roll. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart crush ribs project radially inward from the annular inner surface and extend axially between the ends for nesting in corresponding slots in the spindle. The crush ribs are defined by a plurality of cut outs, which are provided at each of the opposing ends and are defined by the circumferential wall. The cut outs accept and engage various configurations of ribs of a spindle assembly, with the ribs of the spindle located between the crush ribs of the core. The exterior surface of the tubular body may have a texture selected to provide the desired adhesion between the tape (attaching the sheet roll to the core) and the body surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A plated component used in an outdoor environment comprises a component main unit, a metal coating formed over at least a part of the component main unit, and an oxide coating formed over at least a part of the component main unit.

Abstract: A hose reel that includes a spool that is formed by attaching a pair of spool flange plates to opposite sides of hub assembly. The hub assembly is an integral unitary structure that includes central hub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the central hub, a plurality of hub sections provided at the radial ends of the plurality of spokes which define a cylindrical surface upon which a hose can be wound, an annular bracing element connected between the plurality of spokes, and a latch gear provided on the annular bracing element. The central hub includes a spring catch that is configured to engage a spring of a rewinding mechanism.

Abstract: A printer ribbon spool comprising an integral element, molded in one piece from a durable plastic composition, such as of nylon, has an elongate cylindrical ribbon support shaft of substantially uniform, relatively small diameter. One end of the support shaft functions as a first rotation bearing member for the spool, and the other end of the shaft is integral with a narrow, relatively large diameter gear having on the opposed surface thereof a second cylindrical rotation bearing member having a larger diameter than the diameter of the ribbon support shaft and of the first rotation bearing portion thereof.

Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, cut-out portions are formed at an inner peripheral edge portion of a metal plate. By providing gates at the cut-out portions, the metal plate is insert molded without depending on submarine gates. Because the gates are provided, at the time of molding a reel hub, a molding material flows radially from a hole portion toward a tubular portion and a lower flange.

Abstract: A drive chuck of a tape drive system for operatively engaging a tape reel of a data storage tape cartridge. The tape reel includes a circular ring of outwardly projecting reel teeth that defines inner and outer circumferential faces. The drive chuck includes a circular ring of drive chuck teeth and an alignment feature. The alignment feature is radially spaced from the drive chuck teeth and includes a radial contact surface. The radial contact surface is configured and positioned to contact one of the inner and outer circumferential faces upon operative engagement between the drive chuck and the tape reel. In one preferred embodiment, the alignment feature is a ring positioned to contact the outer circumferential face of the ring of reel teeth.

Abstract: A metal plate of a recording tape cartridge which has a tapered portion at an outer circumference thereof. In a state in which the metal plate is attached at a fixed-side mold plate of a metal mold for molding a reel hub and a lower flange, a gap is formed between the tapered portion and the fixed-side mold plate. During molding, molding material flows into the gap. Because of this gap, an annular pawl portion is formed at the reel hub, which annular pawl portion integrally joins the metal plate with the reel hub by sandwiching the metal plate via the tapered portion.

Abstract: There is provided a tape cartridge which is capable of reliably preventing dropout of a magnetic tape without lowering durability. A tape cartridge includes a cartridge body formed by a pair of cartridge halves, one of the cartridge halves being formed with an insertion hole permitting insertion of a driving shaft of a record/playback apparatus, and a tape reel formed by a hollow cylindrical hub and a pair of flanges, the tape reel being accommodated within the cartridge body, with a tape wound around the hub. A center line average height Ra of a surface of the hub is defined to be not smaller than 0.005 &mgr;m and not larger than 0.04 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An apparatus, assembly and method for winding elongate material onto a flanged reel, or unwinding material from a flanged reel. The apparatus includes a linear powered drive shaft and a substantially helical drive pin. The drive pin is utilized to rotate a flanged reel about the drive shaft, and the helical shape of the drive pin causes the reel to be urged onto the drive shaft thereby preventing unwanted displacement of the reel from the drive shaft. To this end, the tension of the material being wound onto, or unwound from, the reel generates a torque on the reel to cause it to screw onto the drive pin as a nut screws onto a bolt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording-media tape reel including a cylindrical hub with its center line as an axis of rotation, and a pair of disc flanges extending radially from upper and lower ends of the hub.