Abstract: A sewing machine includes a thread cutter. The thread cutter includes a cutter blade having a blade edge configured to cut a thread, and a movable member. The movable member includes a guide having a guide surface adjacent to the cutter blade. The guide is configured to receive force from the thread at the guide surface during the course of cutting the thread with the cutter blade and to move in a moving direction which is a longitudinal direction of the blade edge.

Abstract: An air-handling system includes a housing having a passageway formed therethrough. A diverter is rotatably coupled to the housing, and includes a door disposed in the passageway for selectively opening and closing the passageway. A shaft of the door extends through a first opening of the housing, and extends outwardly therefrom, defining a first axis. A lever is coupled to the shaft of the diverter. A flexible tab is disposed axially outwardly of the lever and is positionable in a first position and a second position. In the first position, a distal end of the tab is positioned radially inwardly of an outer circumferential surface of the lever, and in the second position the distal end of the tab is positioned radially outwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the lever. The distal end is moveable about a second axis, parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A monofilament line cutting tool is formed by sandwiching a cutting blade between first and second plastic sheets which are thermally bonded to one another. A monofilament line receiving slot in the plastic sheets extends to the blade whereby monofilament line bent into a U-shape may be placed in contact with the blade cutting edge. The plastic sheets are part of spool forming plastic sheet portions which are thermally bonded to one another and shaped into a spool. The plastic sheets forming the tool are selectively pivotable about a live hinge relative to the spool. The plastic sheets can be separated from one another for forming: a sphere generally around the cutting edge; a pair of elongate barrels extending parallel along each side of the monofilament line receiving slot and adjacent the cutting edge; or, a monofilament line receiving cavity extending to the blade cutting edge.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing tangled thread are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing tangled thread includes a thread grasper usable to grasp on to tangled thread. The thread grasper includes a handle portion and a grasping portion. The apparatus also includes a thread cutter usable to cut the tangled thread grasped by the thread grasper. The thread cutter includes a handle portion and a blade.

Abstract: Controlling the performance of the thermionic tube (102) having a cathode (103), a plate (104) and a grid (105) is disclosed. The tube is configured to provide amplification of an audio derived signal (106) and is arranged to apply a grid bias voltage to the grid. The absence of an input audio signal is detected whereafter output current between cathode and plate is measured to identify actual output current. The actual output current is compared against a preferred output current and the grid bias voltage is adjusted so as to bring the actual output current value towards the preferred output current value.