66results about How to "Increase and decrease distance" patented technology

A staple constructed from shape memory material provides the ability to move from a first shape to any point up to and including a second shape. The staple includes a bridge having a first member and a second member, and allows the second member of the bridge to change elevation with respect to the first member, thereby creating compressive forces, offset forces, or distraction forces. Upon the application of energy, the second member moves upward or downward to deliver forces, dependent upon a desired effect. The staple further includes first and second legs for attaching to first and second bones. The offsetting forces may be utilized to offset the second bone relative to the first bone, or to align offset bones. The bridge may include a transition member or plurality of transition members in communication with the first and second members, whereby the transition member moves about the first member.

An on-the-fly robotic system and method for unloading glass sheets of mixed sizes, including jumbo-sized sheets, from or onto a conveyor onto or from unloading platforms. The system comprises at least one traverse unit extending along the conveyor in parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and at least two programmable industrial robots movably mounted on the traverse unit. The robots may be operated in a full synchronized mode for handling sheets too large or to heavy to be handled by a single robot or in an individual operation mode where each robot handles a single sheet.

A staple constructed from shape memory material provides the ability to move from a first shape to any point up to and including a second shape. The staple includes a bridge having a first member and a second member, and allows the second member of the bridge to change elevation with respect to the first member, thereby creating compressive forces, offset forces, or distraction forces. Upon the application of energy, the second member moves upward or downward to deliver forces, dependent upon a desired effect. The staple further includes first and second legs for attaching to first and second bones. The offsetting forces may be utilized to offset the second bone relative to the first bone, or to align offset bones. The bridge may include a transition member or plurality of transition members in communication with the first and second members, whereby the transition member moves about the first member.

An article of manufacture of removable segments, labels, coupons, and the like, as for identification, rewards and inventory control, which includes a support substrate film (17) structure having one or more selectively-pattern-treated (16) laminae for adhesively, but cleanly releasably, securing the segments, coupons and labels to the support structure (17).

An electrode for a spark plug includes a contact portion. In a particular embodiment, the electrode further includes an annular base and a support portion formed from a different material than the contact portion. The contact portion may be aligned axially with a central axis of the annular base. Further, the contact portion is configured to shield the annular base and the support portion from a second electrode inserted into the annular base.

A motor-driven type power steering apparatus includes: a drive gear connected to an output shaft of a motor; a driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, which is connected to a steering unit; a bearing for supporting one end of the drive gear; a support portion in which the bearing is disposed; and a curved leaf spring which has a length larger than a peripheral length of the bearing and fitted between the bearing and the support portion in a resiliently deformed state. The curved leaf spring urges the bearing so that a distance between an axis of the driven gear and an axis of the drive gear decreases.

A mobile farm implement includes a track assembly with a plurality of arms that are pivotally coupled to support idler wheels and bogie wheels such that the track assembly is able to better conform to the terrain when the implement is towed behind a tractor or otherwise moved.

A suspension height modification apparatus includes a first portion that is securable to a vehicular biasing suspension device and a second portion that is securable to a vehicular frame. The apparatus includes an axis along which a suspension height may be determined between the vehicular frame and the vehicular wheel assembly. The apparatus may be selectively extensible along such axis.

A mobile farm implement includes a track assembly with a plurality of arms that are pivotally coupled to support idler wheels and bogie wheels such that the track assembly is able to better conform to the terrain when the implement is towed behind a tractor or otherwise moved.

An article of manufacture of removable segments, labels, coupons, and the like, as for identification, rewards and inventory control, which includes a support substrate film (17) structure having one or more selectively-pattern-treated (16) laminae for adhesively, but cleanly releasably, securing the segments, coupons and labels to the support structure (17).

An improved hand rasp comprises a planar plate with an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface. An ergonomic handle is affixed to the anterior surface of the plate. A groove blade is removably affixed to the posterior surface of the plate by attachment means. The groove blade may have a variety of geometric configurations and varying in width and depth to accommodate the imagination of the user or designer. The groove blade includes an abrasive surface on the exterior surface of the groove blade. A guide is also removably affixed to the posterior surface of the plate by attachment means, positioned parallel to the groove blade. The guide is adjustable about apertures formed in the plate to position the guide closer to or farther away from the groove blade.

A carrier for a scuba tank or other cylindrical bottle comprises two cylindrical handles connected by a looped rope, the rope passing slidably through one of the handles. The scuba tank is supported by the ropes and carried by one handle looped through the rope. The handles may also be used to chock the tank against rolling in a vehicle, by placing the tank next to one handle and sliding the other handle up against the tank.

A lumbar support of a car seat according to the present invention includes: a support plate to support user's back and made of elastic material; a support frame to which the support plate is rotatably engaged; a slider member mounted on the support frame in a movable manner in a vertical direction; a vertically driving means to move the slider member on the support frame; a biasing force control means including an upper member moving together with the slider member, a lower member disposed below the upper member, a biasing member connecting the upper and lower members to each other and having a controllable biasing force acting on the support plate depending on a distance between the upper and lower members, and an actuating means to control the distance between the upper member and the lower member.

A tonneau cover system for a pickup truck cargo bed incorporates a series of hidden collapsible snap heads used to retain the tonneau cover to an internal frame work which serves to secure the covering system to the cargo bed. These hidden snap heads are covered by the fabric covering of the cover and sewn to the underside of the covering fabric. The hidden snaps are received by a longitudinal hollowed cavities located within the outward rails of the internal frame work. By working in tandem the rails and cover provide slid-ability for accessing stowed cargo.

A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a biconvex lens and the second lens is a biconcave lens. At least one optical surface is aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and the time into the linear relationship between the image spot distances and the time. Meanwhile, the two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved.

A device for mechanically reducing the volume of a lung, comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured so that the distance between the anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and maintained after release of a delivery device. Some embodiments are a method of endobronchially deploying an anchoring device within the lung to reduce the lung volume, the anchoring device comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured such that the distance between the distal and proximal anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and then maintained after release of the anchoring device from a delivery device, reducing the volume of the lung by decreasing the distance between the distal and proximal anchors, and maintaining the decreased distance.

Methods of treating COPD, including bronchoscopically positioning a lung anchor in lung tissue, positioning an outer implant member in pleural space proximate the lung anchor, and coupling the lung anchor to the outer implant member and thereby compressing lung tissue.

An exerciser comprises a first block, a second block, a first torque member, a second torque member, and a damper assembly. The first block has an axle pivotally coupling with the second block. The first torque member is arranged at a first position or a second position of the first block. The second torque member is arranged at a first position and a second position of the second block. The damper assembly couples with the first block and a second block. The forces exerted on the first torque member and the second torque member will increase or decrease the distance between the first torque member and the second torque member.

A cardiac assist system using a helical arrangement of contractile bands and a helically-twisting cardiac assist device are disclosed. One embodiment discloses a cardiac assist system comprising at least one contractile elastic band helically arrangement around a periphery of a patient's heart, where upon an actuation the band contracts helically, thereby squeezing the heart and assisting the pumping function of the heart. Another embodiment discloses a helically twisting cardiac-apex assist device comprising an open, inverted, substantially conical chamber with two rotatable ring portions of different diameters located at the base and apex of the chamber, with a plurality of substantially helical connecting elements positioned substantially flush with the chamber wall and connecting the two rotatable ring portions, whereby a relative twisting motion of the two rings causes a change in volume of the chamber thereby assisting the cardiac pumping function.

A worm gear drive operator having immovable flat thrust bearing surfaces at each end of a worm gear drive for absorbing thrust forces and keeping direct mechanical rotational forces away from the cover plate and housing base during rotation of the worm gear drive. The worm gear drive operator assembly is capable of vertical adjustment of the actuator arm while providing thrust support. A threaded post about which rests a bearing for the actuator arm, and is secured in place by an adjustment screw received within a threaded post on the cover plate.

Devices and methods can be used for performing transoral surgery. For example, this document provides oral retractor devices and articulating surgical tools that are well-suited for transoral surgery uses. The devices and methods provided herein may be used to treat conditions such as, but not limited to, mouth cancer, throat cancer, tongue cancer, larynx cancer, tonsil cancer, obstructive sleep disorders, and pharyngeal diverticulum, to provide some examples.

Methods, devices, and systems for mechanically reducing the volume of the lung. Some embodiments include endobronchially positioning an anchoring device within a lung, the anchoring device comprising at least a distal anchor, expanding at least a portion of the distal anchor to anchor the distal anchor against lung lumen tissue, and tensioning at least a portion of the device to reduce the volume of the lung.

A worm gear drive operator having immovable flat thrust bearing surfaces at each end of a worm gear drive for absorbing thrust forces and keeping direct mechanical rotational forces away from the cover plate and housing base during rotation of the worm gear drive. The worm gear drive operator assembly is capable of vertical adjustment of the actuator arm while providing thrust support. A threaded post about which rests a bearing for the actuator arm, and is secured in place by an adjustment screw received within a threaded post on the cover plate.

A collapsible batting cage is provided with a collapsible canopy structure including a collapsible truss framework supporting an overlying canopy and extendable legs depend downwardly from the truss framework. A ball stop is supported by the truss framework, underlies the canopy and is spaced apart therefrom. A ball assembly having a ball is coupled to the collapsible canopy structure so as to present the ball at a batting height and permit contact between the ball and the ball stop when struck.

A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a biconvex lens, the second lens is a meniscus lens of which the concave surface is disposed on a side of a MEMS mirror, at least one optical surface is an Aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and the time into the linear relationship between the image spot distances and the time. Meanwhile, the two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved.

A method and apparatus are provided for continuously and quantitatively supplying bread dough. The apparatus comprises a pressing means that comprises two movable means, one of which is at least one roller or one belt conveyor and the other of which is at least one belt conveyor, said roller being adapted to rotate about its own axis to apply a force to pull bread dough downward and said belt conveyor being adapted such that its conveying surface moves downward to apply a force to pull the bread dough downward, and which two movable means are oppositely positioned in a horizontal direction, both of said two movable means being adapted to reciprocally move in a generally horizontal direction to increase and decrease the distance between said two movable means.