41results about How to "Simple and inexpensive and reliable" patented technology

An apparatus for restraining a mobility aid in the interior of a vehicle includes two or more retractor spools contained within a common housing. The retractor spools carry flexible webbed belts, and are operated by common actuator mechanism having a direct mechanical attachment to the spools. The various elements of the apparatus are contained within a common housing which is easily mounted to a bulkhead or under a foldable seat. A third retractor is mounted in opposition permitting both the front and rear of the mobility aid to be easily secured by the occupant of the mobility aid without assistance of the operator of the vehicle. The operative portions of the retractor are designed to be positioned so as not to present an obstacle to other users of the vehicle in which the apparatus may be installed. A timing mechanism is provided for at least one of the retractor spools to allow at least one of the retractor spools to be freely manipulated during a predetermined time interval.

This invention relates to a lighting or indicator device, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising at least one light source and at least one output optical system in order to form a lighting or indicator lamp beam consistent with regulations. In accordance with this invention the device comprises at least one input optical system comprising a collimating element receiving light rays emitted by the source and transmitting a beam of parallel rays towards an output optical system which forms a lighting or indicator lamp beam.

A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) return air system actuator device which could, among other things, be employed to notify a user of a clogged air filter and / or disperse a fragrance into a forced air HVAC system is disclosed. In one embodiment the actuator device has a movable actuator mounted within a housing. The movable actuator moves in response to a user pre-set pressure differential. When the pre-set pressure differential is reached, the movable actuator impacts a lever which activates a switch. The switch could be connected to a host of items such as a light emitting device to notify the user to a clogged air filter condition and / or to activate a pump to release a fragrance into the HVAC system.

A socket and plug assembly, comprising a socket member including a housing that confines a plug receiver space and defining an axial direction, said socket member further including a socket face plate internal to the housing and perpendicular to the axial direction defining the depth of the plug receiver space, further including at least four conductive prongs mounted through and projecting outwardly from said socket face into said plug receiver space, said conductive prongs also extending oppositely in the axial direction through the non-conductive housing, said conductive prong ends extending out through said non-conducting housing permitting electrical connection to an electrical device; and a plug member fittingly insertable into said receiver space of said mated socket member, including a non-conducting plug case having a plug face side and a power cord side, further including at least four prong cavities open on the plug face side being in spatial communication with the number, fit, and configuration of said conductive prongs protruding from said socket face plate, including one or more internal conductive terminals captively connected within said prong cavities, said internal conductive terminals being conductively exposed inside the prong cavities, constructed and arranged to induce electrical connection with said conductive prongs when said conductive prongs are received into said prong cavities, said internal conductive terminals projecting outwardly from the non-conducting plug case along the axial direction on the power cord side permitting electrical connection between the internal conductive terminals and a power cord.

The present invention is a simple, inexpensive and reliable device for monitoring and alerting of a power disruption to an appliance or a piece of equipment. An audible and / or visual alarm may be generated in the event that a specific or a piece of electrical equipment becomes disconnected from its electrical source. The device for monitoring and alerting of a power disruption may operate from an internal battery in case the electrical power source to the appliance disrupted. Additionally, a power-surge-suppression, a rechargeable battery, and a charger for the battery may make the device more reliable. The remote receiver may receive a broadcasted alarm signal from the monitoring device and then notify a user with a visual and / or audible alarm at a location where the alarm is more likely to be seen and heard.

Toweling dispenser apparatus including a toweling support roller carrying a movable cutter blade. A switch is actuated after a user pulls on toweling to rotate the toweling support roller and transport the toweling. After some rotation of the roller has occurred, an electric switch is closed and energizes an electric motor to drive the roller and reduce the force required by the user to rotate the roller and actuate the cutter blade to sever a towel from the toweling.

There is disclosed a wristwatch (21) including a middle part (22) defining a middle plane (Y), conductive means (35, 36) for attaching the wristband (32) to the middle part, a radio-frequency module (27) arranged inside the middle part and connected, on the one hand, to a ground plane and, on the other hand, to a radiating element, insulated from each other and forming an antenna. The ground plane includes at least one conductive surface portion (37) of the wristband connected to the wristband attaching means and the middle part which is conductive, the latter being connected from the inside to the radio-frequency module. The radiating element includes a first conductive surface element (25) arranged in a substantially parallel plane to the middle plane defined by the middle part.

A power train for use in motor vehicles has a friction clutch including a housing which rotates with the output shaft of the engine and a clutch disc which transmits torque to the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in the engaged condition of the clutch. The clutch can be engaged and / or disengaged by one or more slave cylinders which is or are rotatably mounted on and is or are being held against axial movement relative to the clutch housing. At least one release bearing can be installed between the piston(s) of the slave cylinder(s) and the diaphragm spring of the friction clutch, and a second bearing is or can be installed between the slave cylinder housing(s) and the clutch housing.

A mechanical transmission (14) having a plurality of ratios (first-twelfth) and an automated system (10) utilizing same, has an upper group of ratios (seventh-twelfth) having a relatively small average ratio step (13%) compared to the average ratio steps (30%-40%) of comparable transmissions. This allows high-speed operation (35-70 mph) at or very nearing desired engine speed (112), emulating the characteristics of a CVT.

For attaching a cardiac stimulator lead at a desired position inside a heart, the stimulator lead having a flexible tube from which a helix is extendible at a distal end thereof by a screw rotating motion and having a proximal end interconnected with an operating member, a tool has a flexible portion wire with an engagement formation at a distal end thereof that mates with a complimentary engagement formation at a proximal end of the operating member. The tool has a handle containing an internal cavity, with a proximal portion of the torsion wire being rotationally rotated by the handle in the internal cavity, and a resilient yoke is formed in the internal cavity, with at least a part of the yoke engaging grooves and ridges in a circumferential boundary surface of the internal cavity.

A method for determining a threshold value of a parameter used to determine whether an individual has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comprising: providing a group of individuals a segment of which is known to have ADHD and a segment of which is known to be normal and not have ADHD; testing each individual in the group by sampling the peripheral skin temperature of the individual during a pre-determined time interval when the subject is in an inactive state to provide sampled peripheral skin temperature data, and analyzing the sampled peripheral skin data to produce a parameter value for that individual; and processing the individual parameter values for all of the members of the group to determine a threshold parameter value which is acceptable for determining whether or not an individual has ADHD when tested by said testing procedure.

System and a method for automatically topping up an internal combustion engine (4) with lubricant. A lubricant container that includes a (1), a pipe (2) which connects the container to the internal combustion engine (4), a level pipe (5) which defines the oil level in a sump (6) and an apparatus (3) for transferring lubricant. The apparatus (3) for transferring lubricant makes it possible to transfer lubricant both from the container (1) to the internal combustion engine (4) and from the internal combustion engine (4) to the container (1).

A platform system (5) for use in a cargo compartment of a truck, lorry or trailer. The platform system (5) is provided with a plurality of elevation platforms (20) with a substantially rectangular outline, onto which, in use, goods can be loaded. The elevation platforms (20) can be elevated when loaded. Each elevation platform (20) is guided by horizontally spaced and vertically extending guides. Each elevation platform is suspended from a set of cables, each of these cables being associated with each of the vertically extending guides and a first end of each of the cables in the set being associated with one corner of the rectangular elevation platform. The platform system is also provided with a plurality of actuators (25) with one actuator associated with each elevation platform (20). The second end of the cables in the set being operably connected one of the actuators (25).

A flushing system for an inboard and an inboard / outboard marine engine is inserted into the flow path normally used for conducting ambient water to the engine for cooling purposes. A first attachment means allows ambient fluid to flow into the system and a second attachment means allows for ambient fluid to flow out of the system. A first extension means connects the upstream ambient fluid to the flushing system inlet and a second extension means connects the flushing system outlet to the downstream ambient fluid allowing the flushing system to be located some distance from the insertion point.

A method and system for electrolysis of water to increase the dissolved oxygen content, raise oxidation reduction potential, and perform direct oxidation of dissolved contaminants in situ. This is accomplished by an electrolytic catalytic oxidation (ECO) cell having an innovative configuration of electrodes in a cartridge designed to maximize water contact with an efficiently designed affecting system. The cartridge consisting of multiple mesh electrodes arranged transversely to imposed water flow electrolyzes passing water when energized. The mesh construction of the electrodes allows water flow to be essentially through the electrodes, with a narrow gap set up between cathode and anode to reduce voltage requirements of the system. The cartridge anodes are preferably plated with a mixed metal oxide such as iridium oxide and ruthenium oxide to catalytically improve the production of oxygen. The electrode cores are constructed of titanium, combining low electrical resistance with low activity, reducing metal loss during system operation.

An apparatus for conveying products comprising at least one conveyor device being drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply the products to each of a plurality of output regions, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation of said drive shaft for individually changing said output region. Said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft.

The interior of a vessel containing fluid is protected against undesirable chemical corrosion and / or mechanical erosion caused by the fluid due, for example, to changes in the chemistry of the fluid, by an electrically conductive, chemically corrodable sacrificial member having an internal section disposed within the tank and an exposed exterior portion connected to an electrical corrosion / erosion detection circuit operative to create and maintain a flow of electrical current through the sacrificial member. When the internal section of the sacrificial member is subjected to a predetermined combination of fluid exposure time and fluid chemical corrosivity within the vessel a chemical corrosion gap is formed within the internal sacrificial member section. Creation of this gap terminates or at least substantially reduces electrical current flow through the sacrificial member and responsively causes the detection circuit to output a corrosion / erosion detection signal indicating the need for corrective action.

A folding convertible top for a convertible vehicle includes a rotational angle detection device disposed in a rotary hinge (1) for detection of the rotational angle between linkage arms (2, 4) of a convertible top frame that are pivotably connected with each other by a bearing pin (10; 22). A rotational angle encoder (8; 18; 30) is connected with one linkage arm so as to rotate therewith and a sensor element (6; 20; 32) is connected with the other linkage arm so as to rotate therewith. The rotational angle encoder and / or the sensor element is / are disposed adjacent to the bearing pin on respective surfaces of the linkage arms facing towards each other or within housing parts (24, 26) connected to the respective linkage arms.

An electronic status detection device for wireless detection of at least one status of an apparatus, wherein the status detection device comprises at least two resonant circuits, of which at least one resonant circuit is active and one resonant circuit is passive, wherein the active resonant circuit comprises at least one control device. A status detection device such as this makes it possible, for example, to reliably detect the presence or the absence of belt clips in safety belt locks.