Abstract: An anti-seismic bearing which comprises a plurality of rigid plates and viscoelastic flexible plates laminated alternately, with at least one of the flexible plates being made of a vulcanizate of a high-loss rubber compound composed of 100 parts by weight of rubber and 3 to 40 parts by weight of phenolic resin having a softening point or melting point of 150.degree. C. or below, the vulcanizate having the properties specified below.(i) The hysteresis ratio at 100% tensile deformation at 25.degree. C. is 0.2 to 0.7.(ii) the ratio E.sub.(-10) /E.sub.(30) is 1.0 to 2.5, where E.sub.(-10) is a storage modulus at -10.degree. C. and E.sub.(30) is a storage modulus at 30.degree. C., both dynamically measured at 5 Hz and 0.01% strain.

Abstract: An earthquake-proof structure is supported on a foundation by a seismic shock absorption system adapted to isolate the structure from movement of the foundation. The shock absorption system comprises a plurality of elastomeric pads supporting the structure on the foundation to isolate the structure from horizontal and vertical movements imparted to the foundation when the ground areas surrounding the foundation are subjected to seismic activity. The elastomeric pads are secured between the structure, such as a building, and the foundation. The shock absorption system is adapted for use on level ground, as well as for side-hill applications.

Abstract: An anti-seismic bearing made up of a plurality of rigid plates and viscoelastic flexible plates laminated alternately, said flexible plates being made of a material characterized by that the hysteresis ratio at 100% deformation at 25.degree. C. is 0.15 to 0.60, the loss tangent (tan .delta.) at 0.01% deformation, 5 Hz, at 25.degree. C. is 0.010 to 0.194, and the ratio E(-10)/E(30) is 1.0 to 3.0, where E(-10) is a storage modulus at 0.01% deformation, 5 Hz, at -10.degree. C. and E(30) is a storage modulus at 0.01% deformation, 5 Hz, at 30.degree. C. An assembly composed of low-damping anti-seismic bearings and high-damping anti-seismic bearings arranged in parallel such that the anti-seismic bearings support the vertical load and undergo elastic deformation in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A chair control for a pedestal chair having a knee-tilt seat. An elastomeric torsion spring is offset rearwardly from the tilting axis of the seat. The seat and torsion spring are operatively connected by a cam surface and a cam follower which effectively reduce the restoring force exerted by the torsion spring against the seat as the rearward tilt of the seat increases. A mechanism to adjust the initial restoring torque of the torsion spring provides a large angular twist of the torsion spring with a minimum linear movement of the mechanism. The chair control provides the chair seat with a less than conventional seat angle relative to the horizontal when the chair is unoccupied. A mechanism is provided to enable the occupant to adjust the chair seat to a more conventional seat angle in its unoccupied condition.

Abstract: An anti-seismic bearing made up of a plurality of rigid plates and viscoelastic flexible plates laminated alternately, said flexible plates being made of a material characterized by that the hysteresis ratio at 100% deformation at 25.degree. C. is 0.15 to 0.60, the loss tangent (tan .delta.) at 0.01% deformation, 5 Hz, at 25.degree. C. is 0.010 to 0.194, and the ratio E(-10)/E(30) is 1.0 to 3.0, where E(-10) is a storage modulus at 0.01% deformation 5 Hz, at -10.degree. C. and E(30) is a storage modulus at 0.01% deformation, 5 Hz, at 30.degree. C.An assembly composed of low-damping anti-seismic bearings and high-damping anti-seismic bearings arranged in parallel such that the anti-seismic bearings support the vertical load and undergo elastic deformation in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: There is provided an anti-seismic rubber bearing made up of a laminate structure formed by bonding a plurality of rigid plates having stiffness properties and a plurality of flexible plates having viscoelastic properties each other alternately, and flanges each attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate structure, characterized by that the local strain is evenly distributed throughout the structure by lowering the local strain which occurs near the flanges.

Abstract: A torque strut is pivotally connected about pivot axes at opposite ends thereof between a vehicle and its power train for controlling the pitching of the latter. The torque strut has an elastomeric bushing that is supported for angular movement about one of its pivot axes and has a configuration such as to effect a spring rate acting longitudinally of the strut that varies with angular movement of the bushing. The strut additionally has a drive for automatically angularly moving the bushing to vary the spring rate in response to varying power train operating conditions.

Abstract: A vibration dissipation mount which permits the mounting of a motor, generator, or the like such that the rotatable shaft thereof passes through the mount and the mount permits the dissipation of self-induced and otherwise induced vibrations wherein the mount comprises a pair of plates having complementary concave and convex surfaces, a semi-resilient material being disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A tilting mechanism for a chair seat or the like of the kind where said tilting mechanism comprises a rigid metal plate being connected to a chair support via a retaining means and where said chair seat is pivotally connected to said tilting mechanism by the aid of said retaining means, first and second flexibly resilient and coaxially arranged members e.g., rubber pads or springs, being provided for cooperation with the metal plate and the attaching frame or the like of the chair seat and both said members being provided in front of and spaced from said retaining means so that said first member is compressed when the seat is tilted backwards and that said second flexibly resilient member is compressed when the seat is tilted forwards. Said members are precompressable by the aid of an adjusting member for the adjustment of the tilting rigidity. Said tilting mechanism is provided with locking means to enable locking the seat in a forward tilted, a neutral, or a backward tilted position.

Abstract: A spring for creating adjustable torsional resistance between two members which are pivotal relative to each other. The spring comprises a stack of axially aligned elastomer torsion rings (30). A locking ring (34) is secured to and separates adjacent torsion rings, one locking ring being associated with each torsion ring. The assembled stack is firmly attached to one of the pivotal members (14). There is connecting sleeve (46) engageable selectively with each locking ring and with the other relatively pivotal member. The number of torsion rings exposed to pivotal motion between the members to vary the torsional resistance of the spring is determined by engagement between the connecting sleeve and selected locking rings.

Abstract: In a commutator formed by a plurality of commutator bars clamped between an annular shell and a clamping ring held together by studs, the life of the commutator may be extended significantly by imposing a resilient damper between the stud and the inside wall of a passage in the shell or ring, or both. The damper is spaced inwardly from the end of the stud, preferably by an amount approximately equal to one third of the length of the stud.

Abstract: In an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine installed on an automotive vehicle having a body structure wherein the exhaust system includes exhaust-system component units such as an exhaust pipe and an exhaust-cleaning catalytic converter, an exhaust unit support device for having the exhaust-system component units mounted on the vehicle body structure, comprising a first coupling member securely mounted on at least one of the exhaust-system component units, a second coupling member securely attached to the body structure, an elastic support member having a portion securely attached to the first coupling member and a portion securely attached to the second coupling member, and a vibration-damping block having a portion connected to the second coupling member and a portion connected to the vehicle body structure.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for supporting an auxiliary transmission unit between the drive shaft and the differential pinion shaft via the rear universal joint, including a bracket assembly mounted to the casing of the transmission unit and to a preloading resilient device mounted to each of the drive axle housings; such pretensioning device including a resilient material sleeve having one portion immovably fixed to the bracket assembly and another portion immovably supported by the drive axle housings, the bracket assembly being tightened to the resilient sleeve in a position whereat the drive shaft is raised with respect to the differential pinion shaft and to the drive axle housings whereby as the same is lowered with respect thereto a torsional bias is induced in the resilient member which is transmitted to the bracket assembly to provide an upward, lifting force to the auxliary transmission unit.

Abstract: A shelf display is constructed for vertical elastic mounting of a product information member between upper and lower shelves. The product information member extends outwardly from the edges of the shelves so as to be viewable to a prospective purchaser moving down an aisle parallel to the shelves. The air movement caused by the normal walking of the prospective purchaser causes the sign to vibrate or quiver, and thereby further attracts the prospective purchaser's attention.

Abstract: In order to achieve the necessary flexible curve according to the natural curve of the human spine in the field of back supports, the back support, attached relatively rigidly in its lower section to the seat, is constructed increasingly more flexibly towards the top. So that the desired course of the spine-like curve can also be achieved at the upper end of the shoulder pad connected to the back rest when the chair is "loaded", a spring member which becomes progressively "harder" is mounted in the connecting element between the end of the back rest and the shoulder pad.

Abstract: A bin-activator of the kind which is supported beneath the outlet opening of a bin or hopper and which is vibrated to facilitate discharge of material from the bin or hopper, the bin-activator being suspended by a plurality of hangers (17) each of which extends between a fixed part on the bin or hopper, and the bin-activator itself, and each hanger comprising a vertically disposed rod (19) mounted in resilient bushes (22, 23) adjacent its upper and lower ends, the bushes surrounding a portion of the length of the rod, and themselves surrounded by a pair of rigid sleeves (24, 25) and the whole assembly being held together by means of nuts (26, 27) screwed onto the ends of the rod, such that pivoting movement of the rod with respect to the bin or hopper and the bin-activator, to effect horizontal movement of the bin-activator, is restricted by the resilient bushes.